Worship Wednesdays - A Time To Rest...

I'm writing today from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. We're now in the 7th week of our East Coast Tour. So far, we've sung concerts, led worship, and taught worships. We've celebrated Easter, and a very memorable Maundy Thursday. We've sung for seniors homes, a youth conference, a hospital visit, and participated in East Coast Music Week. We've driven several thousand kilometres and taken two ferries. We've driven from Spring to Winter and back into Spring again.

And now, it's time for a rest.

This weekend, Canada celebrates Victoria Day - a long weekend commonly dedicated to cottages, BBQs, and depending on your area, fishing. Churches expect a surplus of empty pews this Sunday. Needless to say, it was impossible to book any concerts for the weekend.

So instead, we will join with the rest of the country in a few days of resting, relaxing, and not doing much of anything.

And the timing couldn't be better.

As a self-confessed workaholic, I've learned the value of taking time off. In a non-traveling week, I am firm about stopping work by a certain hour, and I vigorously claim Monday as our Official Day Off.

When we're on the road, that's a lot harder to do. With over 30 events in 9 weeks, with 5 provinces worth of driving, finding time off can be a challenge. Our concert days are obviously very active, and even on our non-performing days, I always need to spend a few hours catching up on admin, or booking summer and fall events.


But then I remember verses like these:

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."

Genesis 2:2 

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."

Mark 1:35 

"[Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."

Mark 6:31b-32 

God - the Creator of all things - rested. 

Jesus - Messiah, Redeemer, Saviour, Healer - rested.

If God rested, why do I think I can run 24-7 without a break?

Jesus took time to be still, to be alone, to hear his own breath. He spent time in prayer, refreshing his soul and reconnecting with God.

He also took time to be along with his disciples - his closest friends and companions.

His was work was physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. It's the kind of work that can easily lead to burnout. And if that had happened, look at all that would have been lost...

So this weekend, I'll do the same. I'll close my calendar, and spend time with silence. I won't look at my watch, except when I get hungry. I'll spend time exploring the fabulous Halifax area with my beautiful husband and good friends.

And by the time next week arrives, I'll be ready to head out on the next chapter of our Infinitely More adventure...

Our East Coast Tour is in its final weeks! 

Please visit our Calendar for a concert near you.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!