The Math of Sabbath Rest
by Kristi Pagan
Occasionally we go through periods of life when Sabbath looks differently than it did in the past. Recently, I’ve struggled to figure out how to spend my Sabbath time in a way that respects God’s and His gift of rest, as well as the realities of my life. The one thing that has become abundantly clear is that when I haven’t properly carved out the time to dedicate to Sabbath rest, or when I try to replace it with activities that are culturally considered “restful”, like shopping or scrolling on my phone, I end up feeling more exhausted throughout my week. This ends up with me having less focus at work, feeling frustrated more easily, and wasting lots of “minutes here and there” trying to give myself mini breaks throughout my day and week. I’ve tried to convince myself that these mini breaks, that I take out of necessity rather than obedience, can add up to my Sabbath rest. But I end up being less productive and still drained.
Our bodies and minds were not designed to thrive without a full dedicated 24 hours of rest. Half of a day a couple days a week or 30 mins each day does not equal the rest that we were meant to receive during a true Sabbath. The math simply doesn’t work that way. While daily prayer and devotionals are beautiful ways where we meet with God daily, and 5 minute breaks to take a walk or sit in the warm sun are lovely moments of appreciation of God’s creation, they do not replace the need to take the long pause called for by Sabbath.
It takes time to settle into Sabbath. Even the preparations required in order to rest for a whole day help us make time to transition our thoughts and attitudes, turning our mind to the coming Sabbath.
When we stop crossing off the do lists, all the chores, all the worry and hurry for a full day, we are able to experience something we can’t get from a 10 minute devotional. We are able to just be. Be who we were created to be. Enjoy the fruits of our labors. Reconnect with ourselves, our loved ones, and God. Without regard for timelines, deadlines, and due dates. We need this time to be able to experience the peace and freedom that God has given us since the beginning of time.
God gave us this wonderful gift, of needing rest, to allow, and sometimes to force, us to stop, slow down, and fully enjoy the gifts life. We are told in Mark 2:27 that, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Every aspect of the Sabbath practice was designed with how God formed us in mind. All we need to do is accept the gift. In it’s entirety.
