Have you ever heard of Sabbath? Perhaps more importantly…have you ever practiced it?
We live in a productivity-obsessed culture that values achievements and busyness above just about anything else, making rest a deeply longed for but elusive commodity.
The ancient practice of Sabbath (taking one day each week to stop working and intentionally rest) provides a solution for the frenetic pace and burnout that so many of us experience.
Sabbath appears on nearly the first page of the Bible. In Genesis 2:2-3, God is hard at work creating the universe for six whole days. On the seventh day, he rests. In the gospels, Jesus practices a similar rhythm: he regularly turned from the demands of ministry to rest and pray (often, but not always, bringing his best friends with him).
The Coffee and Bible Time podcast recently explored this spiritual discipline, unpacking not only what Sabbath is but why it matters so profoundly for our spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being.
If our Creator and Savior felt the need to rest, why don’t we?
Often, our version of rest looks more like mindless consumption. Scrolling through social media, binge-watching streaming services, or endlessly shopping might feel like downtime, but do we feel regenerated and fulfilled when we’re done?
True Sabbath rest involves activities that genuinely refresh us—whether that’s going for a walk or hike, getting coffee with a friend, savoring a favorite hobby, or simply being present with the people we love.
To back this with some data, try going into your phone settings and looking at your screen time. How many hours do you spend on your phone per day? The goal of this exercise is not to shame you. It is to invite you to a deeper, richer life with God. What if for one day—your Sabbath day—you turned off your phone and filled that time with intentional moments with God, yourself, and the people around you?
Of course, it’s easy to go in the opposite direction, and make Sabbath a burden instead of a blessing. Jesus specifically addressed this issue of legalism with the Pharisees. In Mark 2:23-28, Jesus reminded them that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
If the thought of adding yet another item to your list of to-do’s makes you feel anxious, ashamed, and further burdened, you’ve got the wrong idea! Sabbath is about doing less, not doing more.
Implementing a Sabbath practice looks different in various seasons of life. Young parents, busy students, or fast-paced professionals might have to exercise some creativity! But what if…
- You ate leftovers or ordered in on Sabbath so you don’t have to cook?
- You used disposable dishware one day a week so there’s no dishes?
- You asked for help?
At the heart of Sabbath is Jesus’s invitation in Matthew 11: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The point of Sabbath is not to perform a practice, but to set aside intentional time for the Person who gives us what we need.
As we navigate our busy, often overwhelming lives, the ancient practice of Sabbath offers a powerful counter-cultural witness. It declares that our worth isn’t found in our productivity. It creates space for us to remember who we are—and Whose we are. And it invites us to trust that the world will continue spinning even when we pause. Because ultimately, it’s God who sustains all things, not our ceaseless striving.
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