Slowed Down Spirituality: Learning the Rhythms of Silence, Solitude, and Sabbath
Pastor Reed Sowell
Life today feels unrelenting. News cycles flood our minds with tragedy, work demands never seem to let up, and our calendars overflow with commitments. In the middle of this, there is an ancient invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and step into the unhurried pace of Jesus. This isn’t about doing less for the sake of laziness—it’s about living at the pace of trust, abiding in the presence of God, and being shaped by rhythms that make us more like Christ. Click the link above for the full message.
The Power of Slowing Down
Slowed down spirituality doesn’t mean abandoning responsibility or refusing to work hard. Instead, it means learning to live at the pace of Jesus. He trusted the Father completely, which allowed Him to remain calm, patient, and intentional even when the crowds pressed in on Him.
Our culture measures value by productivity, but Scripture invites us to measure our worth by who we belong to. The next step in spiritual growth may not be “doing more” for God, but slowing down enough to trust Him with the details of life. Without slowing down, we risk exhaustion, burnout, and a shallow faith that crumbles under pressure.
A Different Kind of Strength
In Luke 5:12–16, we see Jesus healing a man with leprosy. After the miracle, the crowds surged with expectation, yet verse 16 tells us, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
That word “often” matters. It shows us that prayerful withdrawal wasn’t occasional—it was a regular rhythm. As demands increased, Jesus didn’t rush to do more. Instead, He pulled back, entered silence, and prayed. If Jesus Himself needed this rhythm, how much more do we?
These quiet rhythms are not about escape but about formation. Silence, solitude, and Sabbath are God’s way of shaping us for the life He has called us to live.
Silence: Learning to Be With God
Silence is more than the absence of sound. It is the intentional practice of quieting both external noise and internal chatter to focus on God’s presence.
John 15:4–5 (NIV) reminds us:
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Silence trains us to remain connected to the Vine. In silence, we learn to:
Resist distraction.
Acknowledge God’s nearness.
Rest in His love.
Receive wisdom for the day ahead.
When life is filled with constant pings, calls, and notifications, silence becomes a spiritual resistance against noise. It’s not emptiness—it’s space for God to speak.
Solitude: Becoming Like Jesus
While silence centers us, solitude forms us. Luke 5:16 says Jesus went to “lonely places” to pray. These weren’t just quiet settings—they were intentional withdrawals from people and activity for the sake of renewal.
Solitude is not avoidance. It’s not about running from people or responsibilities. Instead, solitude equips us to love people better. Jesus didn’t run away from the crowds to avoid them; He stepped away to be strengthened for them.
Solitude can look like:
A quiet walk without distractions.
A time of prayer in the backyard.
A moment in nature away from constant noise.
In Luke 22:39–43, we see Jesus praying in solitude at the Mount of Olives before His crucifixion: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Because solitude was His usual rhythm, He had the strength to obey God’s will, even to the point of death.
Solitude trains us to face pressure, conflict, and daily frustrations with Christlike patience and strength. Without it, we risk being short-tempered, irritable, and spiritually dry.
Sabbath: Doing as Jesus Did
The third rhythm of a slowed down spirituality is Sabbath. In Genesis 2:2–3 we read:
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
Sabbath is not just a rule—it’s a gift. It teaches us to rest, delight, and trust God. Unfortunately, by the time of Jesus, many religious leaders had turned Sabbath into a rigid rule. But when Jesus healed on the Sabbath in Luke 6:9–11, He wasn’t abolishing it—He was restoring its heart.
Sabbath is about:
Resting from work.
Worshiping God.
Celebrating with family and community.
Enjoying life as God intended.
AJ Swoboda describes it well: “Sabbath is an act of resistance. It is a refusal to go along with the patterns of the world… The Sabbath is a scheduled weekly reminder that we are not what we do; rather, we are who we are loved by.”
This rhythm reminds us that our identity is not tied to what we produce but to being God’s beloved children.
Practical Ways to Embrace Slowed Down Spirituality
These practices don’t need to feel overwhelming. Start small and let the rhythm grow naturally.
Practice Breathing Prayer: Pair simple Scripture with your breath. For example, from Psalm 56:3—inhale, “When I am afraid”; exhale, “I put my trust in you.”
Find True Solitude: Take a hike or sit in a hammock without distractions. Use the time to repent, pray, and reflect.
Celebrate Sabbath as a Family: Create traditions that remind you of God’s goodness—maybe donuts on Saturday morning, a family meal, or time outdoors.
The point isn’t better habits. The point is deeper connection with Jesus.
Living the Rhythms Daily
Slowed down spirituality isn’t about abandoning ambition but about reshaping it. It trains us to trust God’s provision, rest in His presence, and be renewed for the mission He’s called us to.
Silence teaches us to be with Jesus.
Solitude forms us to become like Jesus.
Sabbath equips us to do as Jesus did.
When we live these rhythms, we don’t just survive chaos—we shine Christ’s light in it.
So, how will you slow down this week? What small step can you take toward silence, solitude, or Sabbath?
Further Reading
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled Formed by Christ on View Church’s YouTube Channel.
Explore additional tools for spiritual growth at www.viewchurch.co/resources.