Why a Sabbatical…and Why It Matters

by Pastor Sean Kelly

Note: Pastor Sean will be on sabbatical from May 25 through September 13, 2026.

From the very beginning, God built rest into the pattern of things. Not as a reward for finishing, but as part of the design. The question isn't whether we believe that. It's whether we actually live like we do.

One of those rhythms is Sabbath. At its core, it means one simple thing: cease. Not quit, not check out. Just stop.

That idea runs deep in Scripture. In Leviticus 25, God told His people to let the land rest every seventh year. No planting, no harvesting, just trusting that something was happening in the ceasing. That practice was called shmita, and it was never merely agricultural policy. It was spiritual formation. A built-in, recurring reminder that everything belongs to God, and that we are sustained by Him far more than by anything we manage to produce.

Today we call that rhythm sabbatical. Our own church policy describes it in exactly those terms: a season of ceasing for rest, renewal, and growth.

You don't have to look far in the Gospels to see this pattern woven through Jesus' entire ministry. He withdrew to pray. He stepped away from the crowds regularly to be with His Father. He didn't just teach about rest. He practiced it. His ministry wasn't driven by demand. It was shaped by discernment. Rest wasn't the absence of work for Jesus. It was alignment with the Father's will. He knew when to step away so He could step back in with clarity and purpose.

That matters for all of us. It's why I believe sabbatical is less of a perk and more of a discipline.

This summer, I get to practice what I've been preaching. Our church's sabbatical policy reflects a genuine commitment to the health of its pastors and the long-term vitality of the whole congregation. Not every church thinks that way, and I don't take it for granted. I'm stepping into this season with a full heart and real gratitude for a congregation who understands why it matters.

Next week I'll share more about what this time will look like for me because the theology of rest is only as good as what we do with it.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of not just rest, but Sabbath rest. Help each of us to rest in You according to Your leading in our lives, trusting that You are working in the ceasing. Thank You for being the ultimate example of how we should live. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.