On Monday, our squad was asked to practice Sabbath. I knew that Sabbath was a day of rest but had never practiced it into my weekly routine. I was looking forward to Sabbath since I’ve been so distracted trying to explore and immerse myself into a new culture and it’s been really hard for me to just be still with the Lord.
Exodus 20:8 ” Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God, You must not do any work. 11- ” For the Lord made the heavens and the earth and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.” (one of Ten Commandments)
My first experience practicing Sabbath was amazing. The Lord gave me not only physical but also much needed spiritual rest to just have an entire day to focus solely on Him without distractions.
First, I laid down and listened to worship music. A constant emotion I’ve been feeling since the Race started was missing my family. I didn’t think this would be an issue so early on but I’ve found myself wanting to be with them more than ever, and questioning how I’d be away from them for 9 months. As I listened to music, the lyrics just passed by until one line really struck me: ” You came to us to show the love of God. You came to us no matter what the cost.”
I sat up and immediately began journaling. Here’s what I wrote:
” Jesus knew we needed to experience the love of the Father. Jesus counted the cost. and He still came. Jesus’ cost was His life. It was death on the cross. But He still came because He knew that if we were about to experience even a sliver of the love the Father has for us- then it’d be worth His life being taken. We came to this nation to SHOW these people the love that Jesus has for them. And in order to do that we had to count the cost. Feeling super homesick, missing loved ones, leaving comforts and sacrificing our own plans is very hard. But no matter what the cost looks like we came because we believe this love is so necessary to share, just as Jesus did.”
I also spent time just recognizing and reminding myself of Jesus’ character, painting and creating art, and opening up in vulnerability with some of my teammates. After 4 or more hours of sharing testimonies, our past regrets, funny stories with each other the Lord revealed to me His provision through this entire journey. I miss my family dearly, but the Lord has given me a new family- my best sisters in Christ to share this journey with. Through my struggles, He’s never left me. He always gives more than I can ask. I’m super blessed for Him allowing me to experience homesickness. It’s allowed me to press into Him and realize He’s already answered my unspoken prayers. He’s just that good.
Rest in the Lord. He will meet you where you are every time and reveal His goodness every time. I know I’m keeping Sabbath in my routine now.
