Vacations
My wife, Karen and I just returned from a much needed vacation. The last couple of months have been stressful. As a result of our dire financial situation at Pacific Life Church we are down three staff members. Consequently our admin, Maki Hagan, Chris Hagan, my wife, Karen and myself have been working overtime to fill in the gaps. (Speaking of filling in the gaps, I want to give a shout out to everyone who has stepped up to help out during this time. It is greatly appreciated). When Karen and I climbed into our van to drive to New Mexico to celebrate our granddaughter’s birthday we were exhausted. Ten days later we feel refreshed and blessed. It’s amazing how a good vacation can change things for the better.
Summer time is upon us and generally speaking most people plan some kind of summer vacation. I have discovered that not all vacations are equal. Have you ever come back from a vacation more exhausted than before you left? Unfortunately, it happens all the time. Going to your dream destination does not mean you will be refreshed in a meaningful way. We all need rest, especially in a culture that moves at breakneck speed.
There were a lot of busy people in the Bible, but aside from Jesus I don’t think anyone was busier than Moses. His to-do list was ridiculous. You might recall that Moses did a hike up to Mount Sinai to have a chat with God. It was actually a pretty long talk, like 40 days. God gave Moses some commandments to give to his people. The fourth commandment emphasized rest. It reads this way in Exodus 20:8-10 (NLT) Remember to observe the sabbath day to keep it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. There is more but I think you get the main idea. God thinks rest is important. Let’s get back to Moses and his to-do list. Moses was tasked with getting the children of Israel to the promised land. In Exodus 33 Moses pleads his case to God. He says, “I need some help getting these people into the promised land.” In Exodus 33:14 God answers Moses when he says, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest…”
Did you catch that? God told Moses, I will give you rest. Our rest comes from the Lord. It doesn’t come from all the amazing places we travel to or the activities we participate in while on vacation. If you want the deepest kind of rest possible, invite God into your vacation. Spend some extra time reading your Bible or listening to a podcast that challenges you spiritually. Take some prayer walks, especially if you are in a beautiful place. Find a way to experience God in a fresh way. If a summer vacation is on the agenda please consider inviting God into it. You will be glad you did!
Stay close to Jesus,
Steve