Recover

By Vince Mancuso

Most times when you hear the word “recover” in Christian circles, it’s about taking back that which was stolen. For instance, it’s a goal of this house to help everyone recover their identities. It’s crucial, it’s important, it’s a worthy definition—but it’s not the only one.

To recover doesn’t just mean to take back something, but it also means to get back to a place of health, whether that be physical, spiritual, or mental.

God provides us with physical examples for spiritual truths and applications. In exercising terms, taking time to recover is a crucial part of a workout program. It’s a day of rest to regain your physical strength, and oftentimes you come back stronger as you let your muscles grow.

Not to beat a dead horse with the low-hanging fruit of 2020 being a rough year—because honestly a lot great things happened for me—but it was a crucial year for me to learn the art of recovering spiritually. And, boy, was it a hard lesson to learn.

I’d say the most difficult part is admitting I missed something God taught us from the very beginning.

“So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.” - Genesis 2:1-3 NLT

We tend to excuse skipping recovery, whether it be due to pride, responsibility, backwards laziness, or whatever. But if the One who literally created and maintains the whole  universe decided to take a rest, who are we to think we don’t need to recover from our work? And if that isn’t enough, remember that honoring the Sabbath is listed in the Ten Commandments; taking time to recover is right up there with no killing and stealing and gossiping. See, the Sabbath is the key to recovering.

We recover in the Sabbath not by merely taking a day off from all work, but when we rest, enjoy our time, and contemplate on God’s goodness. Oftentimes my Sabbaths are filled with writing over coffee, baking with my kids playing nearby, and long walks with my dog. If I’m really fortunate, my wife and I get a date night. In those things I enjoy, I often reflect on one glorious truth: I am an undeservedly blessed man. 

I was not perfect in honoring the Sabbath in 2020, and frankly I was horrible at honoring in 2019 and the years prior, but I learned there is a reason for the Sabbath, and that is to recover on all levels.

In 2021, as we refocus on God, let us not forget this crucial step of recovering each week, that we may delight and grow in His presence, oftentimes coming back stronger than ever.

Challenge:

This week, take steps to establish a Sabbath. It does not have to be on Sunday or Saturday, but it does have to be a day each week. On your Sabbath, tell yourself that it’s ok to rest. Delight in what you do, and reflect back to God that delight. Share with Him the joys of your life, that you may recover and grow in your strength. Strive to keep this Sabbath a weekly thing and keep the practice of recovering in your life.