Day of Rest

 by Macy Johnson

“So the people rested on the seventh day.”

(Exodus 16:30 NIV)

 

I sat at my desk early one Sunday morning in January and watched snowflakes fall. It was the first flurry of the year for our small Georgia community. I could barely see the falling flakes in the darkness. A calm peace covered my deck, my yard, and settled into my heart.

 

Obediently, on schedule, I got ready to head out for worship when the email came: “No Services Today!” I was all dressed up with a change of plans. “Ok, God, I know you are in this!” I wanted to spend my afternoon hours on writing God Sightings, but He gave me much, much more.

 

My pastor emailed this liturgy to our congregation for reflection, “O Christ, King of Snow, we bless you for bidding this blanket of white to cover us in holy hush, that our hearts might be quieted at the sight, that we might sense the emptiness of canvas over which your Spirit broods, and upon which you would create and recreate our hearts in the image of the one whose word first spoke snow into existence.”

 

I knew this was the Holy Spirit telling me a little more about His rules for life. Someone recently gave me several pages of biblical references to the Sabbath. God, the Creator, rested on the seventh day and wanted me to do the same, even to rest from my weekly worship service. He sent snow.

 

It had been a busy week and upcoming activities would soon take over my agenda. I was drawn to the Psalms to seek true repose found only in God.

 

“Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you.”

(Psalm 116:7 NIV)

 

I will rest in the Lord every day. I hope you will, too!