Day 11 – Learning to Be Still

April 11, 2026 — Saturday (Sabbath)

Not every day is meant to be productive.

Some days are meant to be… still.

Yesterday was one of those days.

A Different Pace

From sundown Friday to sundown Saturday

I observe Sabbath.

Which, in theory, means rest.

But in practice?

That can be harder than it sounds.

Because we’re so used to:

• moving

• producing

• filling every moment

Even our “rest” tends to be… distracted.

Clearing Space, Internally and Externally

The day started simple.

Just me and my daughter.

I spent some time cleaning, my office especially.

It had gotten out of control.

And as I worked through it, I realized something:

There’s a connection between external order… and internal clarity.

A clean space creates room to think.

To breathe.

To reset.

The Moment That Slowed Everything Down

Later in the day, after I put my daughter down for a nap

I stepped outside.

Sat down.

Alone.

No phone.
No noise.
No agenda.

Just a book… and silence.

And for a while

I did nothing.

What We’ve Replaced Rest With

And sitting there, I couldn’t help but think:

When was the last time we actually did this?

Not:

• watching something

• scrolling something

• distracting ourselves

But truly…

Nothing.

Because what we often call “rest” isn’t rest.

It’s escape.

It’s noise.

It’s just a different form of stimulation.

The Lost Practice

There’s something about being outside

Hearing the birds.
Feeling the air.
Watching the stillness of creation.

It slows you down.

It reminds you:

You’re not in control of everything.

And maybe you’re not supposed to be.

Why We Avoid Stillness

I think part of the reason we avoid this kind of rest…

Is because it forces us to sit with ourselves.

And for a lot of people

That’s uncomfortable.

Because when everything goes quiet…

The thoughts get louder.

The things we’ve been avoiding surface.

What Sabbath Is Actually About

But maybe that’s the point.

Sabbath isn’t just about stopping work.

It’s about:

• resetting your focus

• reconnecting with God

• remembering what actually matters

Not distraction.

But presence.

The Invitation

What if we were intentional about this?

Even just one day a week

To step away from:

• noise

• pressure

• constant input

And choose:

Stillness. Gratitude. Presence.

The Tension

I’m still learning how to do this well.

How to truly rest

Without filling the space with something else.

But I know this:

There’s something here I don’t want to miss.

The Anchor

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Not rush.

Not strive.

Be still.

Closing Thought

We spend so much of our lives trying to move forward.

But maybe the growth we’re looking for…

Happens when we finally slow down.