Most people likely think of rhythms in terms of calendars and schedules. We try to take regularly scheduled days off. We try to take a vacation week with the family (bonus points if you’re not responding to texts or emails on the beach while you’re kids make sand castles). A Sabbath pencilled in on a Sunday.
That’s not wrong, and I believe it’s realistic at certain stages of life, but it’s not the whole story. True spiritual rhythms aren’t just about where we slot “rest” into our schedules. Healthy rhythms are about listening to the deep pulse of the soul and moving with it.
Let’s be honest: Church culture doesn’t always help with this. While on paper, churches may encourage their pastors and leaders to take regular breaks, stay well-rested and connected with family. At the same time, there is a reality that services happen every Sunday (with multiple services for some of us), volunteers need to be recruited and trained, many ministries kick off in the fall and don’t have time to take a breath until Christmas break. Add in hospital visits and coffee meetings with parishioners, counselling sessions and administrative duties. Ministry quickly begins to feel like you’re trying to hold onto a merry-go-round that just keeps speeding up.
Healthy rhythm is less like scheduling a gym class and more like breathing. Inhale: retreat, reflect, rest. Exhale: engage, serve, give. Both matter. Both are holy. But we often forget to breathe in, and when we never let our souls inhale grace, we start to suffocate under the weight of ministry and life. That’s when frustration, irritability, and numbness can creep in, and we wonder why we don’t feel close to God anymore.
Jesus lived by this kind of rhythm. He preached to crowds (exhale), but withdrew to lonely places to pray (inhale). He healed the sick (exhale), but He also took naps in boats (inhale). He gave Himself for others, but He also sat at a table with friends. His rhythm wasn’t mechanical, it wasn’t “one-size-fits-all,” and it wasn’t frantic. It was responsive. He knew when to stop. He knew when to leave the crowds behind and go somewhere else. He lived by the rhythm set out by the Father, not the demands of everyone else’s agenda.
So, how do we find rhythms for real life?
- Pay attention to your soul’s dashboard lights. Irritability, distractions, and numbness aren’t random. They are signs your soul needs rest.
- Build micro-rhythms, not just mega-rhythms. Don’t wait for the annual vacation or the weekend off. Find daily pauses. A five-minute walk, a quiet prayer, or even closing your eyes at your desk can reset you more than you realize.
- Ask: Am I inhaling as much as I’m exhaling? Serving is beautiful, but service without receiving is like exhaling until you faint. Grace must be breathed in before it can be breathed out.
A healthy rhythm isn’t just about effective scheduling. It’s a dance with the Spirit. And when we learn to move at His tempo, we discover something surprising: we’re not running out of energy all the time. We’re not resenting the people we’re called to serve. We’re not faking joy. Instead, we find ourselves refreshed, restored and able to love well.
Real rhythms for real life aren’t about perfect calendars. They’re about listening to the pulse of your own soul and the quiet voice of the Spirit, then moving to the beat.
The Introverted Pastor 