Summer Sabbaths: Simple Ways to Rest with God
As the pace of summer slows and the light lingers just a little longer, we’re reminded that rest is holy. Not optional. Not indulgent. Holy.
In scripture, Sabbath is woven into the rhythm of creation itself—God paused, delighted, and declared it good. And yet, many of us push through summer with to-do lists still clutched tightly in our hands. What if this season invited us instead to release our grip a bit? To intentionally build in moments that allow the soul to breathe?
Here are a few gentle ways to practice Sabbath this summer—small shifts that can help you rest with God, right where you are:
1. Quiet Walks with Sacred Intention
A walk doesn’t have to be a workout. It can be a way to pray with your feet, to notice the world with fresh wonder. Try taking a path you know well, but with no headphones, no phone in hand—just the sounds of nature and an open heart.
2. Creative Play as Prayer
Sabbath isn’t only about stopping—it’s also about delighting. Pull out a sketchbook, try a new recipe, pick up some yarn, or plant a flower. Let yourself create just because. You may find that God meets you in the joy of process, not perfection.
3. A Visual Prayer Space at Home
Create a corner of calm. It could be a windowsill with a candle and a simple cross, or a small table with a few sacred objects and a Bible open to a favorite passage. Make it a space that whispers, “you can exhale here.”
4. Coloring Pages for Quiet Meditation
Sometimes, words are hard to find. Coloring allows us to rest in shapes and color, letting the Spirit speak in quieter ways. We’ve created a few coloring pages just for this kind of Sabbath practice.
Download one, pick up your pencils, and give yourself permission to slow down. See the digital collection here.
5. Simply Sit
Yes, just that. Sit in the sunlight with your coffee. Lie under a tree and watch the leaves dance. The world will keep spinning. Rest is resistance to the noise that tells us we must be productive to be worthy.
In this season of green—Ordinary Time—we remember that growth is often quiet, unseen, slow. Sabbath gives us the space to tend that deeper work. Wherever your summer leads, may you find moments to pause, breathe deeply, and be reminded: God delights in your rest.
Looking for more Ordinary Time ideas? Here are a few other posts:
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