God designed us to need rhythms of rest. He even modeled it for us at the end of creation week; “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation” (Genesis 2:1-3).

If we go too long without allowing time for refreshment and rejuvenation, we’re headed for burnout. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is rest. For some, this isn’t easy. It means suspending the constant urges to gain others’ approval, pausing the pursuit of personal perfectionism, and stopping the plates from spinning for a season. I think rest sometimes feels unnatural because we’ve lost what God has tried to teach us from the beginning; the value of sabbath rest.

In Matthew 8:23-26, Jesus rests in a boat during a torrential downpour, despite waves rising and crashing against the boat’s hull, threatening to capsize the passengers. We can take comfort in this: If the Son of God needed to take a break occasionally, so do we.

I am thankful that I have been granted the gift of a six-week sabbatical. It will be a learning adventure to discover how to take a break from ministry before ministry breaks me. The well needs a little refilling. I’ll pause from churchwork responsibilities, including preaching and teaching, to experience a period of reflection and rejuvenation. I have plans to attend a couple of ministerial retreat workshops, pursue long-delayed study projects, and practice spiritual disciplines. I ask for your prayers that I will learn afresh the value of sabbath rest.

God is good. He graciously refreshes and restores the weary. Jesus invites, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. Perhaps you’ve neglected your need to take a break. I hope you understand that God designed us to require rhythms of respite. Go ahead, get some rest.

Paul N. Merideth

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