As a group, we parents love to get stuff done. We are do-ers, builders, occasionally over-achievers, and constant caretakers. We are all overdue for a break. To accomplish this, some sleep in on Saturdays (unless your toddlers get up with the sun like mine did), some exercise to generate energy, and some go out and play hard to blow off some steam. All these options are good for the body. One thing we often overlook, however, is that our souls are also weary. We can find ourselves spiritually exhausted and in desperate need of spiritual rest and spiritual nourishment. Then what do we do?
Depleted Body and Soul
If I have a plumbing problem, I need to call a plumber. A physical problem requires a physical solution. If my soul is parched and feeble, I have a spiritual problem and I require a spiritual solution. My soul has been in this parched and feeble condition before. The first time I experienced it, I was disoriented, and I didn’t know what to do. My body was spent, and my soul was depleted. I had never been this low before, and I didn’t know if it was temporary or forever. I wondered if I needed to get out of ministry. It was bad. I was tired—so tired—both body and soul. I went home that night and slept for ten hours. My body obviously needed a lot of rest. When I got up the next morning, my body felt rested, but my soul was still feeble, parched, and depleted. My spiritual condition was unaffected by the much-needed sleep my body benefitted from. Now what?
To my relief, this condition faded in a few days, but it caused me to ask some new questions. Will this happen again? Probably. Are there things I can do to keep it from occurring, and what do I do to recover if it hits me again? I went on a quest of sorts.
If you are a First Responder, you enter into the proximity of another’s trauma, and it is traumatizing. This also happens to counselors, pastors, teachers, and other brave people who step into the pain and trauma of a friend or relative. It also happens to parents—a lot. Then there is the real life probability that each of us will likely experience trauma of our own. It all takes a toll on our souls. There are terrible ways to find relief from this pain. Some drink or take pain pills to quiet the chaos—a terrible idea. Some distract themselves with porn or materialism, etc. These are physical attempts to deal with a spiritual problem. It just doesn’t work.
The Solution
I discovered something brand new. It is amazing, and I think I may have come up with it on my own. I call it “Sabbath.” Okay, it is not new, and I certainly did not come up with it. It was invented by God, and it was initiated at creation and restated to Moses as God literally carved it in stone.
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work,…”
Exodus 20:9-10
Now this is certainly a Commandment, one of the Ten actually. But like all the other nine, it is also an invitation. This invitation was given to us by God because we NEED it in order to do well, to live well, and to enjoy God best. It is a gift—all of God’s commandments are like this. They are for our good.
Practicing a Sabbath
I have begun to practice Sabbath in the last couple of years. I do it pretty poorly and inconsistently, and even with all of that – I find that my soul is deeply nourished by resting and enjoying family, friends, and God on purpose. I’m a work in progress, and I will do it better in the future. It is a challenge. It takes discipline to let God nourish me and give me peace. It’s hard to rest when there is so much to be done, but it will never all be done so . . . I choose to let God show me His love in Sabbath.
You might be thinking this is a guilt-producing, legalistic hardship. Some have done it that way, but you can choose to do it delightfully and experience it as a nourishing gift. That’s what I’m trying to do. This is just one of the spiritual practices that God gave us, and it is just the right spiritual tool to help when I am spiritually depleted and fragile.
Practicing the Sabbath delightfully causes me to love God more when I practice it. When I don’t or can’t due to my schedule, I don’t panic. God is not angry with me about this—I just feel a little sad that I did not enjoy having a Sabbath that week. I look forward to next week because it is such a good gift. I enjoy God this way—a way I have never before been able to. Maybe this summer, you could try it too and see if this wonderful, delightful spiritual practice is just the tool your soul needs to find nourishment and rest – just like God has invited us to.
I highly recommend John Mark Comer’s book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”. He will walk you through Sabbath and other practices that God has given us to live more deeply in His love and peace.
Happy resting.
Do you want to learn more about eliminating hurry and practicing a Sabbath? You can listen to the 11-episode podcast “Fight Hustle, End Hurry.” also by John Mark Comer.