Jubilee. In scripture the year of Jubilee occurred every fifty years in Israel to symbolize redemption, rebuilding, debt cancelation, and restoration. In the year of Jubilee, what had been broken, would be made whole. The year of Jubilee was deemed The Year of the Lord’s Favor. But there was a condition, the people were to rest. The land was to rest. After all, the practice of rest was first demonstrated by God in Genesis. Therefore, rest is a scriptural mandate, a symbol of obedience. Jubilee symbolized trust in God’s divine provision. Since the people were not to work, Jubilee was an acknowledgment of God’s ability to provide for their needs.

“For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:10-11 NIV

Rest is a matter of obedience. The Israelites failed to observe Jubilee faithfully and were in captivity for 70 years. In the same way, we too, are held captive by our doing. We fail to stop, rest, and listen. We willfully choose to keep going, even when the gas tank signals that we are on empty. Why? Our striving evidences a lack of trust. Ouch. We would prefer to be in the driver’s seat, instead of giving God the reigns and trusting He knows best. We as a people of God all suffer from the same condition- we are control freaks!

“Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.” Psalm 46:10 TPT

God’s voice always echoes the same sentiment- surrender. I’ve been convicted by this over and over. I will go from moments of absolute faith to moments where I doubt God’s authority in the earthly realm. But over and over, I return to the moment in scripture where Peter walks on water. In Christ’s strength, miraculously, he soars across the seas. but the moment he doubts and loses sight of Jesus’s face- the moment he strives, he starts to sink.

“Immediately Jesus reached out to His hand and caught him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” Matthew 8:26 NIV

Yet, even still, when Peter fell, Jesus caught him. What a beautiful picture of God’s divine favor! He lifts us up when we fall.

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:2 NIV

Sister, does this exchange remind you of many in your own life?

I can’t help but think of the spiritual condition of the Israelites. Their lack of faith in God’s provision led them into and kept them in captivity. They were prisoners. We, too, are prisoners of our own control. In our doing and constant striving, we are disobeying the spiritual mandate of rest. Perhaps there is something you need to set down for a season. Maybe it is time to walk away from something continually reinforcing this issue with control. It’s possible something else has captured your attention and become your identity. This may be a sign it is time to step away.

I’m not telling you it will be easy, but I am telling you, it will be worth it! What if through the rest, in the quiet, He has plans to restore you and make you whole? I’ve experienced His healing touch in the stillness. I am a living testament of the freedom found in Jubilee.

Dearest daughter of the King, be still in the being. Your value is not found in the doing.

Say yes to Jubilee.

- Kierstin Almstrum, Soul Care + Connections Lead