Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Romans 12:11
We all eagerly anticipate our annual leave throughout the year. We count down the weeks until a holiday, look forward to spending time with family, catch up on jobs around the house, or simply enjoy a break from the demands of work. Rest is important, and taking time to recharge is something God Himself established.
But while annual leave is an opportunity to rest, it can also be an opportunity to serve. That doesn't mean every day off should be filled with activity or that every holiday should become a mission trip. God knows we need moments to slow down and recover. Yet alongside rest, our time away from work can create space to invest in people and opportunities that we simply don't have the capacity for during a busy working week.
Weekdays are filled with meetings, deadlines, commuting, school runs, and responsibilities that leave little time for much else. We often have good intentions to help at church, volunteer in our communities, visit someone who is lonely, or support a local ministry, but life moves quickly and those intentions remain exactly that. Annual leave can, therefore, provide the time we've been waiting for.
Rather than asking only, "How can I make the most of my time off?" perhaps we could also ask, "Lord, how might You want to use some of this time?". That simple shift in perspective can completely change how we approach annual leave.
The truth is that some of the greatest opportunities to serve God are found in the ordinary moments of everyday life. We often imagine serving God as something that happens on a Sunday morning or during organised church activities, we are consistently reminded that our faith should shape every area of our lives.
Sometimes serving God might look like encouraging someone who is struggling. Sometimes it means giving up an afternoon to help at a church event, or supporting a local food bank. At other times, it may simply involve being fully present with family members who need our time and attention.
None of these moments may seem particularly remarkable, but God frequently works through ordinary acts of faithfulness.
Many churches also experience increased activity during the summer months. Holiday clubs, youth camps, outreach events, community cafés, family fun days, and local missions often rely almost entirely on volunteers. Behind every successful event are people who quietly give up their time to welcome guests, prepare refreshments, organise equipment, supervise activities, or simply be available wherever they are needed.
Perhaps this year, your annual leave could allow you to be one of those people.
You do not need to possess exceptional gifts or years of ministry experience. In fact, some of the most valuable volunteers are simply those who are dependable, willing, and available. A smiling face on the welcome team, someone serving tea and coffee, helping set up chairs before an event, assisting with children's activities, or offering practical support behind the scenes can make an enormous difference to both the church and the people it serves.
It's easy to underestimate the impact of these seemingly small acts. Yet many people first experience the love of Christ through simple kindness, hospitality, and generosity shown by ordinary believers.
In fact, serving God doesn't always require travelling overseas or participating in large organised initiatives. Often, it begins by noticing the people God has already placed around us. Jesus consistently noticed those that others overlooked. He made time for individuals whom society often ignored, and these examples challenge us to slow down enough to see the needs around us rather than becoming consumed by our own schedules.
One of the unexpected blessings of serving others is that it often changes us just as much as it helps those we are serving. When we give our time away, our perspective often shifts. Concerns that once seemed overwhelming become smaller as we focus on someone else's needs. Gratitude grows as we recognise the blessings God has already given us. We begin to understand more deeply that fulfilment rarely comes from consuming more, but from giving more. Some of the most rewarding experiences come after choosing faithfulness over convenience.
Of course, this should never become a source of guilt. If your annual leave is needed for recovery after a particularly demanding season, rest is not selfish. It is healthy and necessary. God does not expect us to serve from a place of exhaustion.
Instead, perhaps the healthiest approach is one of balance.
Enjoy your holiday. Spend time with family. Read the book you've been meaning to finish. Take the walk you've been postponing. Sit in the garden with a coffee and thank God.
Sometimes the moments we remember most from our annual leave are not the places we visited but the people whose lives we were able to encourage.
For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.
Hebrews 6:10