Rest Assured: How to Build Rhythms of Sabbath Rest in a Busy Life
Most of us are suspended between two worlds: rest and wrestle. We spend much of our time debating about which world we should seek to excel in and which world to escape. As with most things, when we find ourselves in endless debate, we should turn to the Word of God for guidance.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Rest and wrestle are defined more as positions and less as postures.
In other words, when it comes to resting and wrestling, we do so positionally. We rest, most excellently, when we are assured of our position in Christ. We wrestle, most exquisitely, when we are unassured of our position in Christ. Our wrestling is most pronounced when we are posturing as someone we are not. Rest escapes us most when we are posturing as someone less than we were created to be.
Jesus’ words to us in Matthew 11 confirm these truths for us. Jesus tells us in verse 28 to position ourselves with him in the midst of our wrestling, and He will supply us with rest. In verse 29, Jesus urges us to take his position of lowliness and humility, and we will find rest. This is exactly what my family and I strive to do every year during the month of July.
Upon our return from our sabbath break many people asked us, “How was your vacation”?
However, sabbatical rest is more than a vacation. Sabbath rest is about positioning yourself to cease from striving. Sabbath rest is about positioning yourself to stop wrestling over the things that belong to God.
Much of our identity as a ministry family is connected to our work. When an engineer finishes his work day he can go to the grocery store as himself. He is no longer representing his employer when he picks out his apples. When a marketing professional finishes her work day she can go out to dinner as herself. She is no longer representing her employer when she decides between sparkling or still water. However, there isn’t much clocking out of being a pastor. Most of what we do, “on the clock” or “off the clock” is under the spotlight. Much of who we are is measured by the results that we produce and the behaviors we exhibit. Most importantly, ministry families are always representing their employer.
This is a pretty significant weight to carry—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Add to this weight the eternal implications of every decision you make as you are responsible to care for people’s souls. Every word, every thought and every decision can carry eternal consequences. All of this weight causes you to believe that you are responsible for carrying it all on your shoulders. So imagine how difficult it is to put down the weight and trust God with the results.
Well, our annual sabbatical is the perfect opportunity for us to practice Matthew 11. We are called to go to him when we are weary. Pastoring and planting a church has a way of making you weary. So during our time of sabbath rest, we spent a lot of time going to Jesus in intentional ways. In the spirit of Matthew 11, we are called to take the yoke of Christ and learn from Him. Christ carried the heaviest burden in the history of mankind. He did it on his knees before the Father, escaping the watchful eye of man as he often went to a deserted place and devoting himself to the Holy Spirit’s power even when life was at its most difficult. Our annual sabbatical is our attempt to learn from Jesus’ reliance upon the Holy Spirit, disregard for the opinions of others and dependence upon the Father’s care.
So as we approach fall and everyone gets back into their regular routines, I invite you to do the same. Let’s emulate Jesus by building regular rhythms of rest. You don’t have to wait for your next week off from work or even your next vacation to experience sabbath rest. Rest is a gift that God invites us into daily.
Here are a few practical ways you can build rhythms of rest into your life:
Begin your day with surrender. Before checking your phone or diving into your to-do list, pause to pray and remember who holds your day. “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)
Set aside a weekly Sabbath rhythm. Whether it’s Sunday or another day, choose one day to step away from striving. Use it to worship, delight in God’s creation, and enjoy the people He’s given you. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)
Practice small daily sabbaths. Take intentional pauses throughout the day—step outside for a walk, pray before a meal, or turn your commute into worship time. These small resets point your heart back to God’s presence. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Guard your soul from constant noise. Silence and solitude are not luxuries; they are necessities. Create tech-free moments and quiet spaces where you can listen for God’s voice. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
Carry a lighter yoke. When you feel the pull to prove yourself or control outcomes, remind yourself that you are not the Savior—Jesus is. Release the weight back to Him. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Celebrate God’s goodness. Rest is not just about stopping—it’s about delighting in God’s gifts. Share a meal with loved ones, sing with joy, or reflect on answered prayers. “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)
As you enter this new season, may your soul find its true position—not in endless wrestling, but in resting securely in Christ.