“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.” (Deuteronomy 5:12)
“You are a hiding place for me…” – David (Psalm 32:7)
“God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…’Be still and know that I am God’…The Lord of hosts is with us…” (Psalm 46:1,2,10,11)
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty…He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge…” (Psalm 91:1, 4)
The Sabbath is more than rest for most of us…it is a “refuge”…a safe place where we can go and know that we can find a loving Father who will hold us in His arms. Have you ever been there? Maybe it was during a special prayer time in the morning or while listening to a praise song on the radio or while walking through a quiet park. The cares of this world seemed to melt away as you simply enjoyed the presence of God. It was a refuge that allowed you to let go for a few moments and center again on being loved.
The Scripture tells us that God wants us to enjoy this kind of escape with Him regularly. He wants us to do more than just stop and rest, He wants us to come to Him and “let go”. The Psalmist paints the picture of the mother hen who gathers the chicks under the protection of her wings. It is a warm place…it is a safe place.
Many of us don’t experience the depth of the Sabbath as it was intended because we are afraid. We are afraid to relax and fully enjoy fellowship with the Lord. We come to Him, but we keep one eye on Him and one eye on the world around us. We are afraid that if we take our eyes off the ball for one minute, it might hit us right in the face!
Today, can I encourage you to run to the arms of the Father. He will be your Shelter…your Hiding place. He will keep you under His wings…warm and safe. It’s OK. He’s got this. He’s got you. Stop and rest…let go. Turn your attention away from the worries of this life for a moment…a Sabbath…and let God hold you and refresh you. You don’t have to be afraid you can trust Him.
May God bless you this fourth Sabbath of our Lenten journey.