Beautiful ResistanceSýnishorn

Rest Must Resist Exhaustion

We are too busy. Whether C-suite executives or stay-at-home moms, we all feel perpetually overwhelmed. Our busyness is destroying our peace, eliminating margin, and deeply affecting our bodies. Our pace of life and obsession with accomplishing more are also touching our souls, causing them to slowly die from being overwhelmed and neglected.

Jesus’ invitation seems timelier and more compelling than ever. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). For many, life has come to be defined by these categories—labor and burden, busyness and burnout. Our modern work ethic, schedules, and ambition have become a burden, under the weight of which we all seem to stagger. There doesn’t seem to be a category of life in which exhaustion doesn’t define us.

I often wonder whether this is why the church lacks credibility in our world. Maybe it’s not just our big scandals and cultural failures; maybe it’s something much smaller, more common, more deadly. Maybe it’s our exhaustion. Maybe we are just too tired to model agape love, too scheduled to show compassion, too distracted to pray, too much like the exhausted culture around us.

I know of no more formative and countercultural practice for a culture of exhaustion than that of Sabbath. In a 24-7 world, 24-6 living is a sign, wonder, and prophetic declaration that there is another way to live. 

In the 24-hour period of Sabbath, we step out of the way of the world and into the way of eternity. We step into the space of the Spirit, of life, and of God. We step out of the space of the secular, of death, and of the prince of this age. Sabbath is a portal to participate in God’s presence.

“Sabbath cannot save your soul, but it very well may save your life,” wrote A. J. Swoboda. 

May Jesus teach us not just to pray, disciple, care for the poor, confront hypocrisy, fast, cast out demons, and worship the one true God. May we take him up on his invitation to learn from his humble heart. May you learn that rest can resist exhaustion.

 

How can you make Sabbath rest a consistent part of your weekly rhythm?