Happy Friday, everyone!

For many of us, this Friday begins Labor Day weekend. And there’s something a little ironic about Labor Day, isn’t there? I mean, we celebrate our labor by … stopping our labor.

But maybe there’s something important in that. I think there is.

You know, the Bible begins with God at work. In Genesis 1:3, it says, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’” and boom, there was light.

God just simply said, “Let there be.” And there it was.

Throughout Genesis 1, we see that same pattern again and again. God speaks. God acts. And what God purposes, gets done.

Then after all that work, Genesis tells us something else. God rested. Not because He was exhausted, not because He needed to recover, but because the work He had determined to do was complete.

And I believe that even in His creative work, He was teaching us something important.

Work is good. God created us to work, to serve, to build, to create, to care for others, and to use whatever gift He’s given us for His purpose.

But so is rest. Rest is not wasted time. It’s a reminder that God never intended us to carry everything, solve everything, or keep everything moving.

And sometimes stopping is our way of saying, “Lord, I’ve done what You have given me to do today. The rest belongs to You … and the rest is ours to enjoy.”

So this weekend, give yourself permission to rest.
Step away from something that can wait.
Be present with the people around you.
Enjoy something simply because God has given it to you to enjoy.

And while you rest, remember that God is still working. You can put it down because He has never put you down.

So as you head into this Labor Day weekend, maybe ask yourself one question: “What am I still carrying that I need to put down so that I can truly rest?”

Take some time this weekend to rest not only from your work, but to rest in the love of Jesus and all that He has done for you.

The Lord will get it done.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your work. Thank You for Your power. Thank You for Your strength. Thank You, Heavenly Father, that You give to us not only the ability to work and to serve others, but also, Lord, You give to us the opportunity to rest. I pray for all who are needing rest this weekend, Lord. And I pray for all who would take that rest. I pray especially for those who labor so hard and they are feeling burned out and really need this weekend. I just pray that You would fulfill their time of rest with enjoyment, that You would fulfill it with regeneration and recovery, and that they would awake on Tuesday feeling energized, re-energized as they continue to do the work that You have put before them. Teach us and remind us to rest. Not just on holidays, not just holiday weekends, but really the holy days of Sundays — a day where You’ve called us to rest — and to remember that every single week. We pray this all in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Final Thought
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