by “I’m in a hurry to get things done, oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die, but I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.”
Those lyrics from Alabama’s classic hit capture our modern reality perfectly. We’re all rushing around, feeling perpetually behind, yet we can’t quite explain why. We’ve become slaves to busyness, to our devices, to everyone else’s agenda for us. Sound familiar?
The Ancient Wisdom We’ve Forgotten
The concept of Sabbath isn’t just an Old Testament rule—it’s baked into the very fabric of creation. Genesis tells us that after six days of creating, God rested on the seventh day and declared it holy. This wasn’t because God was tired; it was because He was establishing a rhythm for humanity.
We were not made to go 24/7, 365 days a year.
The Sabbath command appears as the fourth of the Ten Commandments, and it’s unique. It’s a bridge between our love for God and our love for others. When God gave this command to the Israelites, He reminded them: “Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt.” Slaves don’t get days off. But God’s people aren’t slaves anymore.
Why Jesus Fought for Rest
Jesus had more conflicts with the Pharisees about Sabbath than almost anything else. Why? Because they had turned this beautiful gift into a burden. They created so many rules about what you couldn’t do that they missed the point entirely.
Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” It’s a gift, not a prison sentence.
In Isaiah 58, we see that true Sabbath connects directly to caring for others—sharing bread with the hungry, clothing the naked, being present in community. Sabbath was never meant to be selfish; it was designed to restore us so we could better serve God and love our neighbors.
The Modern Crisis
Americans are burning out at alarming rates. Research shows that two-thirds of workers experience burnout, with 45% feeling emotionally drained by week’s end and 51% completely used up each day.
Remember the early days of COVID? Despite the challenges, there was something refreshing about the slower pace, wasn’t there? That collective pause gave us a glimpse of what God intended—a world where everyone stops, rests, and reconnects.
As Henri Nouwen wisely said, “A life without a lonely place easily becomes destructive.” Without that quiet center to return to, life spins out of control.
Four Ways to Reclaim Sabbath: The Four P’s
1. PAUSE
Jesus modeled this perfectly. Mark 1:35 tells us, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place.”
You don’t have to be a morning person. Find your time—maybe it’s after the kids are in bed, during lunch, or on your commute. The key is being intentional. Turn off notifications. Delete distracting apps. Learn that “no” is a complete sentence.
In a world screaming “rise and grind,” we pause to take back control of our time.
2. PRAY
After Jesus withdrew to that deserted place, what did He do? He prayed.
God doesn’t compete with the noise in our lives. He doesn’t shout over our distractions. Remember Elijah? God wasn’t in the fire, the thunder, or the rushing wind. He was in the stillness, the quiet whisper.
But how can we hear God’s gentle voice if we never create space for silence?
In a world telling us we don’t need God, we pray to acknowledge the One from whom all blessings flow.
3. PLAY
Jesus said, “Unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Kids don’t need permission to have fun—they just do. They approach the world with curiosity and wonder. Rest and recreation go hand in hand.
Maybe your reset is baking bread, hiking at sunset, reading a good book, or playing games with your grandkids. Everyone recharges differently, and that’s okay. The Pharisees missed this—they made Sabbath a burden instead of celebrating it as the joyous gift it was meant to be.
In a world telling us to “grow up” and “act our age,” we play to rekindle the childlike spirit God created within us.
4. PRESENCE
Sabbath was never meant to be solitary. Jewish families would cook on Friday, then gather on Sabbath to feast and celebrate together. Early Christians would share meals, read Scripture, and worship as a community.
When’s the last time you were fully present with family or friends—no phones, no distractions, just genuine connection?
In a world promoting independence and self-reliance, we choose presence because in community, we are stronger.
The Invitation to Rest
Jesus extends this beautiful invitation in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
You don’t need to take a full 24 hours every week (though that would be wonderful). Start with segments—an hour here, a morning there. Be intentional about pausing, praying, playing, and being present.
Sabbath isn’t just about the rest we need now; it’s a foretaste of the eternal rest that awaits us. It’s God’s gift to a hurried world, a reminder that we are not slaves to the grind.
So pause. Breathe. Rest. You’re not a machine—you’re a beloved child of God who deserves the gift of Sabbath rest.
LISTEN TO OR WATCH THE FULL SERMON HERE:
Daniel N. Lee 