Rest and Restoration
People are weird. We often contradict ourselves without trying. Take vacations as an example. Do you love vacationing? Traveling?
…Or…
Do you love the idea of vacationing more than the reality? There’s a difference, right? And not just having unrealistic expectations like Clark Griswold.
What about the guilt that can contaminate your enjoyment of a tropical paradise? Or the worry that threatens to puncture your peace? Or the nagging sense of shame that taunts you, lies to you, and says that you don’t deserve to be treated to frivolous kindness?
How do you feel about other people going on vacations?
We just went on a vacation. It was so refreshing. And perhaps the best part was – we didn’t feel like we NEEDED it.
Still, it’s complicated.
Vacation Guilt
Something has gone horribly wrong with American’s relationship with vacationing. Check out these findings from various sources and studies. This is just WILD.
· 54% of people work while on vacation
· 47% feel guilty if they don't work while on vacation.
· 37% regret taking a vacation because of the workload and stress before and after
· 62% don’t use all of their paid time off
· Americans had more than $312 billion in unused vacation days in 2023
What’s going on here? Hustle culture? “Protestant work ethic?” FOMO? I can’t speak to anyone else’s experience but my own.
For me, taking a vacation has taken on a false spiritual weight. Kristy and I have spent nearly all of our married life serving in “vocational ministry.”
That means that, from one perspective, our ability to pay our bills - and go on vacations - primarily depends on people generously and sacrificially donating their hard-earned money to the church.
Gulp.
How are you supposed to fully enjoy a vacation when there are so many reasons not to?
1. The money could be used to help people in need
2. Work will pile up while you’re gone
3. Clients will be disappointed with your lack of responsiveness
4. So will bosses
5. Your plants might not get watered properly
6. Packages could get stolen
7. God may disapprove
8. People may disapprove
And on and on and on the list can go….
God Rested, and it was Good
If you look at Jesus with an open heart, your mind will be blown. He fully engaged with all of life. In John 3, we find that Jesus first “revealed His glory” by turning water into wine at a wedding.
Hold up.
Why would God Almighty waste precious world-saving, curse-breaking, Kingdom-coming time and energy on going to a wedding in the first place – and then – making it last even longer?
Jesus, as the good Jewish man He was/is, made time to partake in all of the Jewish feasts. There were seven. And contrary to popular misunderstanding, He absolutely observed the Sabbath in the purest ways.
Jesus went to parties, took vacations, played with kids, celebrated marriages, and ate and drank so much that He could be (wrongfully) accused of being a drunk and glutton.
Obviously, He worked hard, too. Life wasn’t only a party for Him. And it shouldn’t be for us, either. But the need and desire for rest and celebration are hard-wired into our humanity.
Did you know that God COMMANDED the nation of Israel to set aside 10% of their annual income – to feast and celebrate together?
“Each year you are to set aside a tenth of all the produce grown in your fields… You may spend the silver on anything you want: cattle, sheep, goats, wine, beer, or anything you desire. You are to feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice with your family”
Wait, what?!!? Where is that sermon series? Are you kidding me?
God wants us—maybe even commands us—to spend 10% of our income on celebrating, enjoying each other and Him—with our families!
Did you know that one of the reasons Israel was exiled from the promised land was because they didn’t rest enough? They overworked themselves – and the land.
“Then the land will make up for its Sabbath years during the time it lies desolate, while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest and make up for its Sabbaths”
“This fulfilled the word of the Lord through Jeremiah, and the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation until seventy years were fulfilled”
Maybe we ought to rethink this whole vacation thing a bit. Seems to me that God WANTS you to kick up your feet, laugh until your belly hurts, and make sweet memories with your family.
Why?
I suspect it has something to do with God’s desire to enjoy a relationship with us.
Take a Vacation without Guilt
Which of the following statements is easiest for you to receive?
· God wants you to work with Him to build His Kingdom
· God wants you to pour out your life for Him because Jesus poured out His life for you
· God wants to enjoy you
Each statement has some truth, but the last one may be the hardest for me to accept. I think this has something to do with why some of us struggle with taking meaningful vacations.
Think again about Jesus’ ministry. You could accuse the Pharisees of many things, but being playful is not one of them.
If you or I struggle with being playful and resting, if we feel like something terrible will happen if we stop working – then it’s highly likely that our souls are caught in a stronghold of self-righteousness, self-importance, or both.
God has so much better for us.
When you’re on vacation, you don’t really have anything to offer God other than yourself – what you enjoy, what you desire.
If you work with someone, even God, you can be useful. You can accomplish something. But when you play, well, what measurable objectives can be achieved?
All you have to offer God is you. And that’s what He most wants. That may be part of the reason Jesus kicked off the salvation soiree with a miraculous wedding.
He wants to enjoy you. And me. And us enjoying each other while we enjoy Him enjoying us.
It’s ok to take a break. We did. Check out some of the highlights!
Back to Work
It was so great for us to take a vacation. Mainly because we didn’t feel like we “needed” it. We just wanted to get away and spend quality time together as a family before the school year starts.
It’s funny how God works. Almost like this is part of the plan. After returning from vacation, the Holy Spirit has flooded my heart and mind with so much inspiration and direction for what our next phase of ministry must entail. I can’t wait to share more in the days ahead.
Kristy and I have been able to engage in so many sweet ministry moments. We’ve preached and visited several churches and participated in numerous outreaches, prayer gatherings, house-church worship gatherings, and more.
We are honored to partner with these amazing people and continue deepening our relationships.
We had a fantastic time during Expand’s Legacy Weekend. We prayed and played a ton! People from churches across the city came together to pray in, and for the neighborhoods, God has called us to.
Kristy has done it again! She has totally transformed another house into a home. This woman never ceases to amaze me! Short of some of the electrical and plumbing, Kristy led the charge for us to do the work ourselves.
Seriously. She built these cabinets! And the center island. And the chase. She’s unbelievable!
Because of her incredible hard work, we can now invite people into our home to share meals, stories, and life.
Your Support Means the World to Us
We couldn’t do any of this without you. Your prayers, love, and support are carrying us through. Because of your investment, God’s love is increasingly being made known in Portland – and beyond.
Your sacrificial generosity allows us to invest in many people – and rest with our family. In this way, we’re able to increasingly embrace healthy Kingdom rhythms.
If you are stirred to contribute to this Kingdom work, you can give financially here or sign up to pray with and for us here.
May the Lord bless and keep you, make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace!
