Rest as a Virtue: Theological Foundations and Application to Personal and Professional Life

Abstract

In a culture that values availability, productivity, and speed, a strong work ethic is honored and rewarded. Hard work is seen as virtuous, while rest is given little attention. However, Scripture notes the value of rhythmic, intentional rest practices (i.e., Sabbath-keeping) and cultivation of a Sabbath heart. This article explores the value in rest that attends to enjoying, worshipping, and receiving from God outside of the world of performance and productivity. Consideration is given to the ways that both our culture and profession present major barriers to embracing this virtuous rest for mental health professionals. A brief survey of those with training in a mental health field who profess a Judeo-Christian worldview was conducted. Results showed that those who identified themselves as Sabbath-keepers were significantly more satisfied with the amount and quality of their rest than those who did not identify as Sabbath keepers. Future research implications are discussed. "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, New International Version). The concepts of the Protestant work ethic, a selfmade man, and the American Dream are central aspirations in our culture. Hard work is praised, honored, and rewarded within the family, church, and workplace. Achievements and accomplishments, resumes and curriculum vitae, and paychecks and performance bonuses often result in hectic, overly full schedules and an anxious, overwhelmed population. People are more productive (International Labour Organization, 2007) and more driven to accomplish than at any other time in history. While work seems to be a cultural virtue, rest is often discussed as a means to recharge in order to do more work-or sometimes simply as a strategy to avoid burnout-most notably in people-helping profes

Anticipating Sabbath Predicts Higher Quality Sleep: A Longitudinal Adventist Study

“…Taking a Sabbath break counterbalances life and can help an individual unwind one’s mind from the stresses of daily life, possibly improving overall health. Adding the practice of Sabbath into one’s life gives additional sleep health benefits; when an individual looks forward to rest with God, it has been shown to improve the quality of sleep for Sabbath keepers compared to non-Sabbath keepers, ( R 2 = .53, p < .01; White et al 2015). The practices of religion and spirituality also help to improve meaning and purpose in life by helping individuals cope with chronic health problems, give hope and optimism through changed attitudes, improve self-esteem and also enable a greater sense of control over life’s challenges (Koenig 2012).…”

“…As Comer (2019) states, the Sabbath is a day to stop and delight, whether through feasting, playing, singing, or praying, “the Sabbath is how we fill our souls back up with life.” Taking time to pray, reflect, and contemplate life are key aspects of spirituality and religion that help to balance and restore the mind, body, and spirit, while ideally the Sabbath includes “rest, reflection and relationship development,” the Sabbath is a weekly punctuation for individuals to experience less stress (Diddams et al 2004). Sabbath rest also involves “an inward attitudinal respite and reflection on God” where an individual focuses on Gods sovereignty and is able to relax even though the world might be in upheaval (White, Blackburn, and Plisco 2015). There are also significant mental health benefits from not working or doing the same thing every day of the week.…”

Changes in Sabbath-Keeping and Mental Health Over Time: Evaluation Findings From the Sabbath Living Study

“…For some, Sabbath is a dedicated time to reflect upon their daily lives (Woodley, 2015). White et al (2015) propose that truly recognizing the Sabbath means engaging in “virtuous rest,” which orients hearts and minds toward God. However, the degree to which a person observes the Sabbath can vary widely.…”

“…Although the few empirical studies noted earlier point to potential mental health benefits of Sabbath-keeping, the studies leave several gaps, including an ambiguous definition of a Sabbath-keeper (White et al, 2015) and the inability to interpret the temporal associations between Sabbath-keeping and other variables (Superville et al, 2014). In addition, these studies were not done with clergy and the potential for mental health benefits for clergy may be different.…”

Does regular exercise help significantly reduce blood pressure in adults diagnosed with hypertension within the general population?

“…No correlation was noted between Sabbath-keeping and physical health scores (r50.0, P..05).A 2015 cross-sectional study (n5296) assessed the impact of Sabbath-keeping on satisfaction with the quantity and quality of rest in life. 3 Mental health clinicians and graduate students of Judeo-Christian backgrounds aged 18 to .70 years old were included and responses were gathered by an online survey. Sabbath observance was assessed by the survey question "at least 1 day a week off from work" and responses categorized into groups "yes," "varied," and "no."…”