Beautiful Freedom in coordination with The Cogitating Ceviche
Presents
The Art of Sabbath: Rediscovering Rest in a Productivity-Obsessed Culture
By Calista Frieheit
Narration by Amazon Polly
In today’s culture, productivity is celebrated as a virtue. We often find ourselves constantly occupied, whether it's in our careers, social commitments, or even our leisure activities. The result is a society that idolizes busyness, measuring worth in output and equating constant activity with success. Amidst this frenzy, the biblical principle of Sabbath stands as a countercultural practice, a beacon of rest and restoration in a world that never seems to pause.
The Idolization of Busyness
The 21st century has seen an unprecedented glorification of busyness. Social media showcases carefully curated schedules filled with work, side hustles, and networking events. Being "always on" has become a badge of honor, while rest is often seen as laziness or a lack of ambition. This cultural obsession has real consequences—physical exhaustion, mental burnout, and spiritual emptiness are pervasive issues. In many ways, our unyielding pursuit of productivity mirrors an old form of idolatry, where time, rather than being used in service of God, is sacrificed at the altar of efficiency.
Busyness has become an easy answer to existential questions. If we're always moving, always doing, we never have to stop and ask ourselves why. What is our purpose? What is our value beyond what we accomplish? For many, silence and stillness have become uncomfortable—a void that must be filled with yet another to-do list, another obligation. This relentless drive keeps us from the deep reflection and spiritual growth that come from rest.
Yet, rest is woven into the very fabric of creation. After six days of creating the universe, God rested. Not because He needed it, but to set an example for us. The Sabbath reminds us that we, too, need this pause. It’s not just a physical rest—it’s a spiritual acknowledgment that our worth is not derived from productivity, but from being children of God. When we ignore rest, we ignore a divine invitation to step off the hamster wheel of achievement and into the grace and peace that God offers us.
The Sabbath: A Time for Family, Community, and God
The traditional observance of Sabbath goes beyond mere rest; it is a time for meaningful connection with family, friends, and the Creator. The Jewish practice of Shabbat involves refraining from work-related activities, but also includes lighting candles, sharing meals, and worshipping together. It is a holistic approach to rest, one that nourishes the body, mind, and soul.
For Christians, the Sabbath is not about strict legalism but about embracing a rhythm of work and rest that reflects God’s creation narrative—six days of labor followed by a day of rest. This cycle reminds us that our value does not come from our productivity but from being made in the image of God. It is a weekly opportunity to reset, prioritize relationships, and deepen our faith. The Sabbath is a reminder that rest is not a luxury, but a necessity, integral to our well-being.
In our busy lives, Sabbath can be an invitation to practice gratitude and to reconnect with what matters most. It’s a time to pull away from the hectic pace of the world and draw near to our families. Imagine setting aside a day to focus solely on your children or your spouse—not with hurried conversations in between tasks but with undivided attention. In our homes, this could look like a leisurely breakfast together, followed by a family walk or time spent reading scripture. It is a moment to savor the blessings we often take for granted.
The Sabbath can also be a time of community, where we come together to worship and share life with fellow believers. This connection, forged through shared prayer and fellowship, creates a deeper sense of belonging. In a culture that promotes independence to the point of isolation, Sabbath can bring us back into community, reminding us that we are not alone in our journey.
Practical Steps for Incorporating Sabbath Rest
Bringing the Sabbath into modern life may seem challenging, but it is both possible and deeply rewarding. Here are practical steps to help reclaim this ancient practice:
Set Boundaries Around Work and Technology
In our hyper-connected age, one of the most radical acts of Sabbath observance is disconnecting from technology. Establish a designated day where work emails, social media, and notifications are turned off. This intentional separation from the digital world helps create space for genuine rest and reflection. Imagine waking up on a Sabbath morning, with no urge to check your phone, no news feed demanding your attention, and no work email to respond to. Instead, your morning is filled with prayer, scripture, and the company of loved ones. The sense of peace that follows is a small taste of the larger rest that God desires for us.
Plan Meaningful Activities
The Sabbath does not mean sitting idly, staring at the clock until the day ends. Rather, it means engaging in activities that rejuvenate your spirit. This might include spending time with loved ones, walking in nature, or immersing yourself in scripture. These are not activities that drain your energy but fill you with life, allowing you to feel God’s presence in a way that’s often lost in the chaos of the week.
Engaging in these activities allows us to practice gratitude—a necessary counterbalance to the constant striving for more. When we pause, we begin to see the beauty in simplicity. We notice the warmth of the sun on our skin during a walk, the laughter shared during a game with our children, or the quiet wisdom found in scripture. Sabbath is an invitation to slow down and see the world not through the lens of accomplishment but through the lens of God’s grace.
Create a Family Tradition
One way to embrace the Sabbath is by creating a family tradition that signifies the start of your rest. Just as the Jewish people have specific rituals for welcoming Shabbat—like lighting candles and saying prayers—we can develop our own practices that make the Sabbath special. Perhaps it’s a family dinner every Friday night where each member shares what they’re grateful for from the week. Or maybe it’s a ritual of lighting a candle, saying a prayer, and reading a favorite psalm. Whatever it is, these small acts help mark the transition from the week’s chaos to the peace of Sabbath rest.
These traditions also create lasting memories. For children, knowing that every week there is a sacred time where the family gathers, laughs, prays, and enjoys one another, builds a foundation of faith and love that will guide them into adulthood. In a world where children are often pulled in a thousand directions, these moments provide a sense of stability and a weekly reminder of what truly matters.
Embrace Silence and Solitude
Our world is filled with noise. From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep, we are bombarded by sound—emails pinging, news blaring, advertisements clamoring for our attention. The Sabbath is a chance to step away from this constant barrage. Embrace silence and solitude as part of your Sabbath practice. Take time for contemplative prayer and meditation, allowing your mind to settle and your heart to open to God’s voice.
Silence can be intimidating at first. Many of us have grown uncomfortable with stillness because it often reveals what we’d rather ignore—our fears, our anxieties, our unmet desires. But in the quiet of the Sabbath, God meets us there. He whispers to us that we are loved, that we are enough, and that we can lay down our burdens. In these moments of solitude, we find a peace that surpasses understanding, a deep rest that goes beyond mere physical relaxation.
Reflect on the Week
Another practical step in observing the Sabbath is setting aside time to reflect on the past week. Use this time to acknowledge your accomplishments, release any frustrations, and renew your spirit. This practice helps to start the new week with a fresh perspective, grounded in God’s grace rather than the pressures of productivity.
Reflecting also helps to cultivate gratitude. When we take the time to look back, we begin to see God’s hand in the small details—the unexpected kindness from a coworker, the strength to get through a tough day, the beauty of a sunset we managed to catch in the rush of life. By reflecting on these moments, we not only give thanks but also remind ourselves that God is present in every detail of our lives.
Sabbath as a Radical Act of Faith
In a world that tells us our worth is tied to what we do, embracing the Sabbath is a radical act of faith. It’s a declaration that our value is not found in our output but in our identity as children of God. By resting, we acknowledge that God is ultimately in control—not us. Our work is important, but it is not the source of our worth. Sabbath rest is a way of resisting the culture of hustle, of stepping back and trusting that God is at work, even when we are not.
There’s a certain humility in taking a Sabbath rest. It’s admitting that we are not indispensable, that the world will continue to turn without our constant effort. It’s recognizing that God, not us, sustains the universe. In resting, we also model to others the truth that rest is part of God’s design for humanity. We become living testimonies of what it means to trust in God’s provision.
Sabbath as a Source of Strength
Ironically, one of the greatest sources of strength comes from knowing when to rest. When we honor the Sabbath, we are better equipped to face the demands of the other six days. Our minds are clearer, our bodies rejuvenated, and our spirits fortified. God designed us to need rest so that we can do His work effectively. A tired, burned-out person cannot serve others well. But a person who takes time to rest, who reconnects with God, family, and community, is capable of amazing things.
In this way, Sabbath rest is not just about pausing; it’s also about preparing. It’s about equipping ourselves for the work that lies ahead. The Sabbath gives us the space to listen for God’s guidance, to reflect on His purposes for us, and to receive the strength we need to pursue our calling. It’s in these moments of rest that God often does His deepest work in our hearts, shaping us and preparing us for what is to come.
Conclusion
The practice of Sabbath offers a much-needed antidote to the pressures of modern life. It invites us to pause and rest, to find our identity not in what we do, but in who we are in Christ. As we rediscover the beauty of this ancient tradition, we may find that true rest is not an escape from work, but a sacred rhythm that brings balance, renewal, and deeper connection with God.
Embracing Sabbath in a productivity-obsessed culture is a bold act of faith. It is a reminder that while our work is important, it is not all there is. We are invited to step back, rest, and trust that God is at work even when we are not. Sabbath rest is not merely a suggestion—it is a gift, a way to live more fully, more freely, and more deeply in the love of our Creator.
Thank you for your time today. Until next time, God Bless.
