“A 2023 survey from Statista found that almost a quarter of the adult respondents in the US who worked or studied had not taken any sick leave in the past 12 months.

Of those who did take sick leave, around two or three days was the most common figure.

Not every workplace in the US has sick leave benefits. A 2021 study on civilian and private industry workers found only around 80 percent of those had access to paid sick leave benefits.”

While I would like to believe that this is because people are healthy and whole, we all know people who show up to work, sick as a dog, and sometimes spread their sickness around. (I’ve done it myself).

Genesis 2:1-3

2Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

² And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

³ And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Exodus 23:10-12

King James Version

¹⁰ And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:

¹¹ But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.

¹² Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

Exodus 23:11-13

King James Version

¹¹ But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.

¹² Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

¹³ And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Mark 6:30-32

³⁰ And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

³¹ And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

³² And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

A lot of times we get into the weeds arguing about whether to be a Sabbatarian or not. And that’s certainly an important discussion for another time and format. I posted those scriptures for you, not to take them theologically, but conceptually. The repeated concept we see throughout scripture is to take time off and take time away. Not to just lie in bed and scroll on social media, but to spend time in contemplation and with God.

Jesus called his disciples to “leisure” or opportunity to rest. That verse is saying that they didn’t have time or opportunity to rest, not even to eat. Jesus never told us to not work hard, and to merely sit and do nothing. But rather, He is saying to be sure to plan in moments of rest.

“Anapauō” signifies "to cause or permit one to cease from any labor or movement" so as to recover strength. It implies previous toil and care. Its chief significance is that of taking, or causing to take, rest

So this resting is planned, with a goal in mind, to recover strength. This kind of resting is NOT lazy resting. Resting does NOT mean inactivity. The disciples spent this time with the Lord. In the OT, the Israelites spent this time in prayer, worship, and contemplation. We often focus on the not working part, or the “what day is the right worship day” part, but not the part where we are contemplating and focusing on God AT HOME part of this.

That said, yes, I am a HUGE advocate for taking vacations, sometimes unwinding, and watching the occasional movie or sporting event. But, we definitely cant do that everyday and still make our goals. Rather plan these intentionally into your schedule and lifestyle.

Here are ways to plan intentional and spiritual rest into your busy workday:

• Wake up early to pray and sit with God - Yep, this will require going to bed on time, if not early. In the OT, those who worked on the Sabbath were to be put to death. While we aren’t doing this today, this signifies (conceptually) how important this time is. Prioritize this time, just like their lives depended on it, guard it like your life depends on it (it does). Let no one or nothing take away or intrude upon this time.

• Spend an hour before bed - Maybe if you are struggling with mornings (I do), try doing it before bed. Everyday at 9pm (or whatever time you choose) unplug, unwind, turn off notifications, set phone to DND. Heck, even power down the phone and lock it away. Some may even need to turn their Wi-Fi signal off. The point is, do whatever you have to do.

• Practice Hesychastic prayer - Hesychastic prayer is an ancient Christian spiritual practice that has been used for centuries to achieve inner peace, greater self-awareness, and a deeper connection to the divine. People who practice it experience: Reduced stress and anxiety, Improved focus and concentration, Greater self-awareness and self-acceptance, Improved sleep and energy levels, Increased sense of purpose and connection to God. “Hesychasts use these practices to detach from their thoughts. They experience four levels of prayer: verbal, mental, prayer of the heart, and contemplation. The prayer of the heart is a practice that uses the Jesus Prayer, which is considered a summary of the Gospels and embodies the Christian faith's two main mysteries.” The Jesus Prayer is simply: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Learn more about it here. “Every mental activity, has repercussions on the physical and bodily level; depending on our inner state we grow hot or cold, we breathe faster or more slowly, the rhythm of our heart-beats quickens or decelerates, and so on. Conversely, each alteration in our physical condition reacts adversely or positively on our mental activity. If, then, we can learn to control and regulate certain of our physical processes, this can be used to strengthen our inner concentration in prayer.”

“To say the Jesus Prayer a hundred time attentively and without haste, about half an hour is needed, but some ascetics require even longer. Do not say the prayers hurriedly, one immediately after another. Make a short pause after each prayer, and so help the mind to concentrate. Saying the Prayer without pauses distracts the mind. Breathe with care, gently and slowly.”

I’ve said in another post before: “Unplugging grants us the gift of silence, a precious commodity in our noisy age. In this silence, we can hear the whisper of God's voice, guiding and comforting us. The Holy Scriptures remind us of the importance of stillness: "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). By stepping away from the constant barrage of digital communication, we create a sacred space for prayer and reflection, fostering a deeper communion with our Lord.”

Detaching from technology allows us to embrace the present moment fully. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, exemplified living in the present, attending to each person He met with full attention and love. When we are not distracted by screens, we can be more present to God Himself.

From a health perspective, unplugging offers numerous benefits. It reduces stress and anxiety, which are often exacerbated by the constant connectivity and information overload of our devices. The body and mind are given the opportunity to rest, leading to improved sleep, better mental clarity, and a more balanced emotional state. Scientific studies have shown that reduced screen time can alleviate symptoms of depression and increase overall well-being.”