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Why is it so hard for us to take a sabbath? Why do we struggle to rest in the knowledge that God is at work?

By Cody Raak

I have been pastor of a rural church in South Dakota for almost a year. When I began last October I was instructed by experienced pastors to establish a day—other than Sunday—as Sabbath: a day for rest and recreation, a day to say “no” to my work and “yes” to God’s work. 

I followed this advice eagerly, and the church has been supportive and encouraging. I am grateful to them for this gift.

Now after nearly a year of observing regular Sabbath—after seven years as a full-time student who never fully observed Sabbath—I frequently begin work on Tuesday without being sure that taking Monday off was enough to accomplish “Sabbath.”

I did “cease” my ministry work on Mondays (as much as possible) and the congregation has graciously helped me do this. But is that enough?

Our challenge is defining what we consider work, so we can know what to stop doing. More than ever, we are so defined by what we do that our work inevitably encompasses our whole lives.

Sabbath is more and more essential, then, in order to protect at least one day each week from our “I am what I do” thinking. Pastors are not alone in this.

But it is perhaps more complicated for pastors. There is still a sense, at least in rural churches, that Sunday is more than just another day off—that it has holy significance. Still, I am easily tricked into thinking that Sunday is my busiest workday. I am responsible for leading this congregation in worship, for delivering to them a word from the Lord, for instructing them in the faith, and for equipping them for Christian living, and I have one morning to do all this, I think. So Sunday can’t be my Sabbath, right?

Or should it?

Keeping Sunday as Sabbath in ministry reminds me that I do not build or create Christ’s body on earth. Christ does. If my work does not create the church, then I can experience God’s rest with his church, even as I serve it.

Sabbath is not work to accomplish. It is God’s gift to us, to be received.

Cody Raak is pastor of Emmanuel Reformed Church in Springfield, South Dakota. “Platform” gives RCA members a chance to share their opinions.