sabbath pitch
Whether you’re a fresh-faced, fresh-faithed fresher or a recent retiree, have we got the spiritual discipline for you?! No, no! Don’t be put off by the word ‘discipline’. We know it might sound like more hard work, but this could be the answer to your over-worked, over-stretched problems. ‘Come…all you who are weary and burdened’ (Matthew 11:28). We give you… (drum roll please) Sabbath! And it’s for you!
Are you finding yourself dreading your shifts? Starting to snap at your colleagues or housemates at home? Sabbath has been voted the ‘Most underrated practice of the century’ by our team here at CMF HQ. Designed by God himself, who built a rhythm of work and rest into the fabric of creation right from the beginning, Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word ‘sabatt’, which means rest.
Unlike your standard self-care routine of face cleansing, bubble bath, and a cheeky annual-leave manicure, this form of rest is primarily about being God-aware and giving him time and attention. But in turn, this has the benefit of drawing us close to Jesus, who brings us restorative rest. True rest. A rest that the world craves, and can only be found in God, the one who created it.
You may be familiar with Christians observing the Sabbath on a Sunday. But thankfully for the nurse or midwife shift worker, this versatile practice can be used any day of the week!
Check out Jesus’ ‘How to’ tutorials in the Gospels where he pulls away from the busyness of daily life and spends time with the Father. And try not to get too legalistic. After all, his tagline is ‘Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’. (Mark 2:27)
Ingredients include:
Stopping: stop working, stop wanting, stop worrying, and simply rest in God’s presence. Maybe turn your phone off (or at least put it on aeroplane mode to stop the notifications every five minutes). Consider a digital detox.
Rest: We often believe the world’s lie that rest is for the weak. But even Jesus slept. Taking a nap means trusting that God remains on shift, even when we’re not. That we can ‘waste’ a day off and not feel the need to ‘binge rest’ by cramming in lunch dates, housework and exercise.
Delight and worship: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all; this is a bespoke package that is tailor-made by the great designer himself. Knowing that Jesus is our rest liberates us to worship and praise God using the creative gifts and talents he has given us. The key is to be led by the Holy Spirit; check out the fine print to see how to apply.
Sabbath. Available now in all good Christian homes. Why not pick it up this week and give it a try?
Co-authored by Gemma Griffiths and Bex Lawton our midwife and nurse dynamic duo on the CMF staff team.
