by Taylor Deline

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His.”- Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV)

The Hustle is Real (and Really Unhealthy)

In my junior year of college, I was the poster child for burnout. I was in school, working a part-time job, building the youth ministry for my church, and often participating in a musical at my local theatre. These were all things that gave me joy, connected me to my community and were in pursuit of the woman I felt God calling me to be. None of it felt inherently bad, except for the negative affects on my mind and body. During this time, I was in and out of the hospital with assorted illnesses—from kidney stones to respiratory failure. I couldn’t regulate my sleep or emotions and was constantly thinking about where I had to be or what I had to do next. I was rarely living in the present moment. I was getting IVs full of vitamins, having panic attacks and feeling like I wasn’t doing anything super well, unable to give my best self to any of my obligations. During this time, I realized that I couldn’t pour from an empty cup—no matter how caffeinated that cup was. I was exhausted, and something needed to change because naps, Netflix, and nitro cold brew weren’t cutting it anymore.

From Overachieving to Obedience

During this time in my life, I was in a small Bible study group with three women who were just like me: very busy, very passionate about the life they were building, and very exhausted. All four of us were looking for clarity on the big next steps in our lives—things we wanted God to speak into—things like marriage and grad school—but we felt like He wasn’t clearly directing our steps. Looking back now, I see that we were not slowing down enough to look or listen for His voice. One of the women in our group had begun studying the discipline of Sabbath and suggested we all try to begin incorporating it into our weeks. We saw Sabbath as an opportunity to hear from God about the next steps in our lives, practice gratitude, and heal parts of our physical and mental health in the process.

We did not expect that answering this call to obedience would change our lives in such a profound way.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” – Exodus 20:8-10 (ESV)

It felt impossible to take an entire day off from my responsibilities, so I started with just two hours. I went for prayer walks, did crossword puzzles at a cafe over a coffee and cinnamon roll, went to dance classes or drove the backroads in my car as I sang worship music. Slowly, two hours turned into four, then eight and eventually a full day. Now I live a life where I am working from my rest not working for my rest. I am by no means perfect at resting and there are seasons where my discipline of Sabbath slips just like any other discipline. However, in the same way I pray or read my Bible, the foundation is there—I know where to go for renewal, hope and love.

The Body and Spirit Connection

It is important to remember that we are embodied people, souls connected to living bodies. The way we care for one deeply affects the other. When we are not taking care of our bodies, we feel it in our spirit, and when our spirit is neglected, our bodies begin to take note.

Before my big fatigue event, my understanding of self-worth was intrinsically tied to productivity. If I wasn’t doing something, I would feel guilty. It took practicing Sabbath consistently to realize that resting IS doing something—it is communing with God, fueling my body and soul. Sabbath may be countercultural but it is not selfish. It is a gift to care for my body and soul, and it is worth it.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV)

Interested in Practicing Sabbath?

Below is an example of what practicing Sabbath might look like. You might begin your practice with a similar prayer:

“Heavenly Father, thank you for meeting me here today, as I am. I pray you slow down my mind and help to keep me grounded in your presence, uninterrupted by my own distractions. Guide me to see how you are intentionally pursuing me in this season. Through Scripture, reveal to me pieces of your character, goodness and sovereignty so I may know you more deeply. Thank you for this time and I pray your Spirit guides my Sabbath day. Amen.”

Remember, the exact words or length of your prayer isn’t what’s important. What’s important is setting your heart with intention and opening yourself to God.

4 Tips for Sabbath

1. Start small. Block off a few hours each week and protect that time fiercely. You do not need to commit a full day right away if that feels overwhelming. Start with an amount of time that you can consistently commit to and grow from.
2. Turn off your phone. Let a close person or two know where you’ll be. You can l let them know when your phone will be back on. 
3. Worship. Read, pray, walk, dance, or sing in worship.
4. Use Your Hands. Garden, cook a new recipe, or maybe complete a paint by number. 

Every person’s Sabbath will look different. Pastor Matt Chandler says, “Those who work with their hands, Sabbath with their minds. Those who work with their minds Sabbath with their hands.” Personally, I have found this guidance to be true in my practice!

3 Reflection Questions:

1. Where do you feel the most resistance to resting in your life? Work? Household chores? Relationships?
2. What’s one small step you can take this week to reclaim the Sabbath in your own life?
3. Who is someone already in your life that you can invite to practice Sabbath with you for community and accountability? 

For additional reflection questions and resource pages, check out Refresh: A Guided Sabbath Journal.

 And with that, I leave you to be led by the Spirit in your Sabbath rest.