What If Rest Is Supposed to Be Enjoyable?

Sabbath rest, delight, and the surprising spiritual value of dino nuggets.

By Pastor John Erickson

I wonder sometimes whether we've made following Jesus sound more miserable than it needs to be.

We talk about discipline. We talk about sacrifice. We talk about doing hard things. And all of those belong in the Christian life.

But when was the last time you thought of having fun as something that might be good for your soul?

I'm serious.

One of the things I've learned from practicing Sabbath is that rest is not merely stopping bad habits or recovering enough energy to work harder on Monday. It's also learning to enjoy the life God has given us.

And for some of us, that's surprisingly difficult.

We Can Get So Busy That We Forget What Life Is For

There's a certain way of living where every moment has to be useful.

If you're at home, you should be cleaning something. If you're driving, you should be learning something. If you have a few minutes between appointments, you should be checking messages. If you sit on the couch, you start feeling guilty because there are things you could be doing.

And somewhere in that cycle, we begin to believe our purpose is simply to get through the next set of responsibilities.

I know what that's like. I can go from one thing to the next and feel as though I'm trying to hold on to smoke.

Sabbath interrupts that rhythm. It asks us to stop long enough to remember we were created for more than producing things.

God gives us room to enjoy His gifts

Genesis 1 describes a world God calls good, and Genesis 2:1-3 describes His rest when the work of creation is complete. God did not need to collapse onto the couch because making the oceans had worn Him out.

The pattern gives us a way to think about our own lives. Work matters. So does ceasing from work.

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 describes anxious striving so well it feels as though the writer has been reading my mail. Work fills the day, and even at night the mind won't settle down. Then verses 24-25 turn toward eating, drinking, and finding enjoyment as gifts from God.

We can spend so long working toward a life we hope to enjoy someday that we miss the good already in front of us. Sabbath gives us space to receive it with gratitude.

Sabbath Is Not a Competition in Being Religious

One problem with spiritual practices is that we can turn them into another measurement of how good a Christian we are.

Did you pray long enough? Read enough chapters? Sit quietly enough? Did you follow every rule about what you were allowed to do on your day of rest?

Before long, Sabbath feels like a test we can fail.

But Jesus challenges that approach. In Mark 2:27, he says the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.

The practice is supposed to serve us, not become another master.

It's not an excuse to ignore responsibilities or neglect people who need us. But it does give us permission to approach rest as something God designed for our good.

And part of that good is delight.

What Actually Gives You Life?

Here's a question worth asking: What activities leave you feeling more grateful to be alive?

Gina and I had a Sabbath that helped me see this. Her parents had offered to take our kids skiing, but our youngest, Joel, came down with a fever. He felt well enough to be very unhappy about missing the trip. That is an unfortunate combination.

We told him we would make the day about spending time with Mom and Dad and doing things he enjoyed.

Breakfast? Dino nuggets. Naturally.

We snuggled on the couch and talked. He wanted to make something, so we got a birdhouse kit. There were french fries with plenty of ketchup, building and painting, and more dino nuggets for dinner. After our Sabbath ended that evening, we played Mario together-just him, Mom, and Dad.

He had been crushed about missing the trip. By the end, it had become his dream day.

As we went through it, I kept thinking: this is Sabbath, too. We had stopped, rested, made room for God, and delighted in the life He had given us.

Your day will look different. Maybe delight means a walk, a good meal, a book, or time with a friend. If you spend all week sitting, movement may restore you. If your work wears out your body, a strenuous outing may be the last thing you need.

Ask whether an activity will be a net benefit or a deficit for your soul. We're making room for ordinary goodness, not trying to manufacture a perfect family memory.

Rest Helps Us See More Clearly

When our lives are moving at full speed, we can lose perspective.

Small frustrations become enormous. We find ourselves reacting to everything, but rarely reflecting on what actually matters. We can be surrounded by gifts and barely notice them.

Sabbath gives us some space to notice again.

Who are the people God has placed in your life? What are you grateful for? What have you been too busy to appreciate? What burden have you been carrying that you need to entrust to him?

Rest can include prayer and worship. It can also include celebration. These aren't enemies.

Enjoying God's gifts can become an expression of thankfulness to the giver.

You Might Be Busier Than God Wants You to Be

That sentence is a little uncomfortable, isn't it?

We like to imagine every obligation on our calendar is necessary. Sometimes it is. Often we have more choices than we think.

If you never have space to enjoy your family, share a meal, or simply be present in your own life, it may be worth reevaluating the pace you're keeping.

Not because God wants to take good things away from you, but because there are good things he doesn't want you to miss.

Start with one small change. Protect a few hours. Set aside the usual work. Turn off some noise. Do something life-giving and thank God for it.

You don't have to earn the right to enjoy your life.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is put down the to-do list, gather the people you love, and remember that God made a good world.