The August long weekend is right in the middle of our Canadian summer. A lot of people are away for vacations and special family times. Summer often brings opportunity for travel. It also embraces holiday time; a gift from your employer to give you a change of pace. My question is how will you use this special time of the year? As children of God, these days should be seen as a gift from Him. It allows us to enjoy His creation, strengthen relationships, experience different cultures, and recover from the demands of work. Jesus Himself invited His disciples, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31). Physical rest is both wise and necessary. I hope you are blessed with moments of renewal this summer. I’m praying that God guides you “into green pastures and beside quiet waters” for soul rejuvenation.
It’s important to realize that a holiday is not the same as spiritual rest. The idea of a spiritual rest is rooted in the biblical Sabbath. A holiday changes our location; Sabbath changes our orientation. A vacation may refresh the body, but Sabbath renews the soul. We can return from a week away feeling physically rested while remaining spiritually weary. Sabbath invites us into God's presence, reminding us that our identity is rooted not in what we accomplish but in whose we are.
The Sabbath principle begins in creation (Genesis 2:2-3), where God rested, not because He was tired, but because His work was complete. In Exodus 20:8-11, God's people are commanded to remember the Sabbath, setting aside time to worship, trust, and delight in Him. In the New Testament, Jesus declares Himself "Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27-28), showing that true Sabbath rest is ultimately found in relationship with Him. Hebrews 4 expands this theme, inviting believers to enter God's rest through faith in Christ.
Whatever time you are given this summer, a day, a week, a month, I encourage you to be intentional in making the time about body, soul and mind. During a summer break, Christians can intentionally combine the blessings of vacation with the practice of spiritual renewal. Rather than merely escaping routine, we seek God. This may include unhurried prayer, meditation on Scripture, worship with a local church while travelling, enjoying creation with gratitude, practicing silence, sharing meaningful conversations with loved ones, and resisting the constant pull of technology and productivity. I encourage you to pick up a good Christian book for a summer read. Pick up your journal and write what God is saying to you, maybe preparing you for the autumn. Maybe it will include special service, like at a Christian camp.
A helpful question is this: Am I simply taking time off, or am I making space for God? One restores energy; the other restores the heart. The healthiest summer break often includes both. A holiday must be more than recreation—they become occasions for spiritual formation. We return not only with memories of beautiful places but with renewed trust in God's faithfulness, deeper communion with Christ, and greater readiness to serve others.
Today we are away, practicing what I preach. Pray for Sara and I as we take the month of August to slow down, enjoy family, and enjoy the Presence of God.
