Rhythms of Rest: Finding the Spirit of Sabbath in a Busy World

by Shelly Miller

“Time is a relentless river,” writes Ann Voskamp: It rages on, a respecter of no one. And this is the only way to slow time: When I fully enter time’s swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. I can slow the torrent by being all here. I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment.

Preparing isn’t as much about what we do as it is about creating space for expectancy. Preparation in rest precedes the miracle. When we run errands early in the week, clean up the house, prepare food for the weekend, these are acts of love at the root. Preparing for Sabbath communicates to Jesus, “You matter most. I want to spend time with you.” And rest on a day filled with uncertainty, like it was for the women from Galilee, is an act of faith overriding rational thought. A faith that communicates, “I trust that what you say is true.”

Right now, when it comes to Sabbath, I just stop, unless of course, I can’t. You know, “I can’t” meaning the in-laws are here or something major is happening on Monday or it’s the week I start directing the play or. . . . It’s easy to avoid stopping. Preparation would help me whittle down the “I can’t” situations even more. This comes down to rhythm, and mine is slowly being built in, including adding some extra kitchen prep to my Saturday morning. One of the biggest hurdles for me right now is preparing for the week mentality in terms of details and planning. But I did have a wonderful moment. I was looking at my to-do app for today and saw a notice that said, “Nothing due tomorrow.” Practice makes progress.

there is a difference between being purposeful and being driven about time.

When we see time as a generous gift of invitation instead of something we hoard selfishly, we are more generous with the hours given us and free from the tyranny of the urgent. In “giving away” twenty-four hours to rest and pay attention, he seems to bless what is initially considered a sacrifice, in the same way he blesses finances in tithing. When I give time away to God first, I have the capacity to give myself and resources away to others joyfully. I realize time spent for the sake of someone else isn’t time wasted at all. He redeems what I often consider a sacrifice.

My heart yearns for quiet time, but the boss says, You should get the laundry folded and the dishes done or you’ll be behind on Monday. Just this one load, I think, and a few minutes later, I’m rearranging closets.

Pulling weeds is therapeutic, but the boss slyly convinces, That whole patch of the garden should be reworked, it looks terrible. As the sun recedes into twilight, instead of feeling rejuvenated by basking in nature, I’m exhausted from attempting to conquer a patch of earth. “We are not what we can conquer, but what is given to us,” Henri Nouwen wisely writes.

Cooking is a creative outlet, but the boss implores, You should make one more batch of cookies or one more side dish for dinner in case there isn’t enough food for the weekend. What begins as a joyful endeavor changes into the fear of scarcity and an excess of dirty dishes.

I may take a walk with my camera as a way to enjoy the outdoors. But when a walk becomes about exercise with a preferred outcome, like burning calories to shed pounds, I’ve slipped into compromise that desecrates Sabbath.

Organizing a drawer or closet can often be a rejuvenating activity until it is a mess I feel I have to clean up before I can rest easy. When I ask myself if the activity is easy and if it makes me feel lighter, my answer determines how I choose to spend time on Sabbath.

One of the most productive things you can do toward cultivating peace in Sabbath is to admit when you need help. Being vulnerable can feel scary, but it is the bravest decision we make. When we invite others to participate in what matters most to us, the vulnerability deepens respect. If we are going to be successful at rest, accountability is important. And accountability is easy in Sabbath-keeping when there is an assurance of a good result.

I began to experiment with Sabbath rest. The first thing I tried was abstaining from shopping or filling the car with gas. While a seemingly small step, it trained my thought process to keep Sabbath in the forefront of my thinking.”

I long to be less of a feeler, to process this season more rationally and with less emotion. I don’t want to hurt anyone with words spewing out of my mouth in reaction. I don’t trust myself when I’m anxious. But if I stuff emotions, thoughts travel to a dark place and I have trouble seeing my way out.

How can I turn off my mind? How can I enjoy life without assigning meaning to everything? How can I numb my emotions and still feel God’s presence with me, without compromising our relationship?

Whenever well-laid plans are interrupted by disappointment, peace abruptly halts. I confess the practical steps we make in preparation for making Sabbath a rich experience may actually be the easiest part. We can have all the components in place—clean house, errand list checked, stocked refrigerator, food simmering for the weekend—all while the mind is in a constant state of restlessness, working tirelessly and unfocused. Ironically, I give them a list of things to do to achieve a mind at rest. And if Jesus is Sabbath, then the way to achieve peace isn’t about doing more but resting in him. If Jesus is Sabbath and we are made in his image, then we carry the spirit of Sabbath within us that makes resting body, mind, and soul possible.

“All his precepts are trustworthy.” Yes! I see it now as I look back through the porthole of waiting. God’s precepts express his love and faithfulness as much as the works of his hands. His love has been the motivation for our waiting season all along. I just couldn’t detect his presence through the anxiety and uncertainty. “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8 ESV).

What is your ruminating practice of choice? If you don’t have one, explore ways you can begin to implement one activity that allows your mind to settle in preparation for Sabbath (e.g., coloring in an adult coloring book, gardening, hiking, cooking, journaling).

Quiet your mind by mediating on Matthew 11:28–30 (preferably in The Message version), contemplating one sentence at a time in your heart. As you slowly ponder each word, allow the truth to absorb all the things unsettling your spirit.

Is it tempting for you to “slide back down the mountain” when Sabbath becomes hard due to circumstances? Recount the ways God has provided for you in the past when you’ve pushed past resistance.

I describe Sabbath as a day to wait for Jesus to come. How does this change the way you view Sabbath now?

“Striving and a lack of rest in body, soul, and mind ultimately results...