“People who keep the Sabbath live all seven days differently.” – Walter Brueggeman 

It all started with Instagram. I was mindlessly scrolling through my feed when I saw a post inviting me to learn more about practicing the Sabbath. As a middle-aged mom juggling all the things – my job, a household, a calendar with complicated teenage schedules, and let’s not forget a spontaneously vomiting cat – anything that sounds restful is immediately intriguing.  

But, my inner skeptic wondered, is this realistic, or is this just for people who have a lifestyle involving few commitments and large chunks of time that they can devote to a monastic experience? 

Nonetheless, I clicked through, and fell down a deep, deep rabbit hole. And the deeper I fell and the more I learned about practicing the Sabbath, the more desirable it sounded. After all, in our 24/7 non-stop culture, who doesn’t crave a little rest?  

But the Sabbath is about more than taking a break. The Sabbath, at its roots, is a rhythm of creation. The term “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew word “shabbat” which means “to stop.” Take a second and let that sink in. It doesn’t mean to slow down or to take a temporary rest…it’s not a biblical yellow light. It’s a red light – a full, complete stop – instituted and exemplified by God during creation. He spent six days creating, culminating with his creation of mankind, and then He rested.  

Think about this: God created man on the sixth day of creation, and on the seventh day – Adam and Eve’s first full day of life – God showed them how to rest. He didn’t show them how to winnow grain or prune trees or pluck an avocado during the five minutes it is actually ripe or any of the other work that was a delightful part of existing in a perfect creation. I like to think of God, Adam, and Eve going for a restful meander through the garden, delighting in sun-warmed strawberries and engaging in good conversation as Adam and Eve soaked in the wonder of God’s creation. 

That is, in a nutshell, the purpose of the Sabbath: to experience true rest in God, enjoy His creation, and to connect with Him. It’s about restoring and resetting our bodies and souls, setting aside our own ambitions, and abiding in Him.  It is also an opportunity to trust Him – to embrace that He instituted this rhythm of working for six days and resting for one day for our good. 

This all sounds beautiful and idealistic, but let’s be pragmatic. Perhaps you have little ones running in circles around you all day and you feel fortunate if you can even use the bathroom in peace. Maybe you have a demanding job or work long or unpredictable hours. Another possibility is that you already have too much time on your hands and the idea of observing a Sabbath sounds downright depressing.  Is it possible to observe and find joy in a Sabbath rest in our current situation? I believe that we can. I’m not saying it will be easy at first, but I believe it is possible regardless of the season of life.  

Here are a few thoughts to ponder as you consider establishing a Sabbath rest: 

1. Start Small: As with introducing any new practice into our lives, it is wise to start small. Trying to practice a 24-hour Sabbath right away could be overwhelming and setting you up for failure, but could you start with one hour and maybe expand that over time? Perhaps your work schedule is unpredictable, but could you carve out a few hours each week, even if it is on a different day and time each week, to dedicate to Sabbath rest? 

2. What Do You Do During a Sabbath? It looks different for everyone, but it can be helpful to consider these two questions: A) Is it rest? and B) Is it worship? Perhaps your Sabbath practice includes going to church, playing worship music or going for a long hike to soak in His creation. Maybe it looks like being rejuvenated through time spent in community with others through game nights or a leisurely, laid-back evening of good friends and good food. And let’s not overlook the possibility of enjoying a long, restful nap! 

3. Live In Your Season. What’s realistic in your current season of life? If you have little ones, maybe your Sabbath looks like enjoying quiet time or a nap while your kids nap, followed up by a family nature walk. If you already have too much quiet time, perhaps a Sabbath can serve as a time to fuel you so that you can serve others out of your overflow and bless them with the opportunity to rest. In my season, it is a challenge to get two teenagers on board with a full Sabbath…but we continue to take baby steps in that direction. For instance, we have recently tested out a “screen Sabbath” on Sunday afternoons. (In full disclosure, on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being unbearable and 10 being amazing, my teens gave the experience an 8.5 and a 1.9. Obviously, it’s a work in progress!)  

4. Prepare For the Sabbath: A Sabbath practice does require some preparation so that we can truly rest. Perhaps it means budgeting so that you can order pizza each week or prepping a crock pot meal. It could look like making sure bikes are tuned up for a nature ride or gathering everything needed for church ahead of time so that the morning goes more smoothly. The goal is to put measures in place so that you can rest and worship well. 

The Sabbath isn’t meant to be burdensome or legalistic – it is a gift from God that He invites us to enjoy. It’s meant to restore our bodies and souls so that we can operate out of that restful spirit throughout the week. Ultimately, it’s a day established for our good for the purpose of enjoying and abiding in His goodness.  

Despite my best intentions to start 2023 organized and restful, I already find myself overwhelmed, and it’s only the second month of the year!

Will I have time to do laundry today? Did I send that email on time? Maybe I can squeeze a workout in before making dinner. 

It’s in these moments that I find the Holy Spirit reminding me of Jesus’ sweet words about rest in Matthew 11:28-30: “‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” 

This February, our Women’s Blog writers will be sharing their experiences with Sabbath, God’s command for rest. It is our hope that you are encouraged through their words and Scripture, like Matthew 11, to take rest in Jesus’ presence. 

-Becca Fulcer, Adult Ministries Program Coordinator