Mark 6:31-32: 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.
You have choice, reader. You can come apart to be restored by Jesus. Or... you can just come apart and work to pick up the shattered pieces of your life and ministry. Rest is not an option. It is a divine mandate. You are a creature, not the Creator. You have limits. Honor them with rest.
Why you need a Sabbatical
1. You are not what you do.
One of the most common reasons people struggle with rest is because they are so wrapped up in their work that they believe it defines who they are. They develop an identity crisis because their worth has been misplaced in what they do, not in who God says they are. The truth is your work does define you—if you let it! Thankfully, God’s definition of you is far greater than any job title or career can ever be.
We need to fix our eyes on a new definition that comes from above, from Jesus. When we see ourselves through Christ's eyes, we can understand our true self-worth. We need to remember, "You are not what you do."
2. A sabbatical is godly and good. It allows you to remember who you are and Who created you!
Let's start with the obvious—we all need rest. We need to get away from the daily grind and make time for ourselves, our families, and our health. If we don't, we'll burn out. When we're burned out, we're no good for anyone. We can't help ourselves or those around us very well when we're run-down and sluggish.
God is a master at giving His children rest periods so that they can be refreshed and ready to serve Him better than before! One example of this is the year of Jubilee in which slaves were returned to their homes after a certain amount of years (Leviticus 25). God knew that people would grow tired of working and would want to go home eventually—so He provided a way for that to happen.