Meredith Ryburn

When was the last time you had a day of rest? Not a day off where you caught up on chores and replaced office work (paid work) for housework or personal work. An actual day to rest. A time to cease from work and connect with God. I like to call it holy rest. The Old Testament calls it sabbath, the Jews still do, as they observe this ancient practice of letting go of doing to embrace being with God.

I am convinced that most leaders struggle with rest because they have not developed a theology for rest. It exists as a nice idea. Something I might get to when all of the things are achieved. It has not - for far too many of us - moved from suggested to sacred. Guarded and revered in the same way that we hold dear our reading of scripture, lifting up of songs, and giving to the poor.

I would imagine that you are already aware that on the seventh day God rested from His work. That is probably a sufficient enough argument for rest. But let's dig a little deeper into the picture we are given of God’s original design for humankind. Go back one day, what happened on the sixth day of the creation narrative? Well done. God made man. Have you ever considered that the first day that Adam and Eve experienced was a day of rest?

Yes, God gave them work. He assigned them occupation and usefulness in creation. Yet, their first cycle of six days subduing the earth would come after they experienced a day of rest. We are designed for work, no doubt, but designed to work from rest, not for rest. Genesis 2:3 calls it a “holy” day.

As followers of Jesus on this side of Calvary, we are not called to a legalism of regulations and calendars, we are called to a lifestyle of abiding. Constant work without ceasing parades like commitment and diligence, in truth, it is pride believing that the work of our own hands is what lead us to success. Trust in Him who is faithful and rest.

In 2010 Meredith completed two years of combined study in Creative Stream and Leadership Stream at C3 College. She is always looking for fresh ways to declare Jesus and live out the timeless truths found in Scripture. Her passion is to help others find who God has always designed them to be and practically apply Biblical principles.

Meredith Ryburn is a wife to Phil Ryburn and Mama to three energetic boys. She and her husband are Lead Pastors of Cornerstone Church in Toledo, Ohio, USA.