Episode 46
Sunday Conversation: How the Bible’s Picture of Rest Is So Different and Why It Matters
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Host: Ross Stackhouse
Episode Title: How the Bible’s Picture of Rest Is So Different and Why It Matters
Episode Summary
In this reflective and engaging episode, Ross Stackhouse invites listeners to slow down and reconsider their relationship with rest—both physically and spiritually. Drawing from personal experiences of sleepless nights with a newborn, insomniac struggles, and spiritual practices, Ross challenges the prevailing culture of constant productivity and highlights the transformative power of intentional rest.
Ross leads his audience through candid conversations, scriptural insights, and even moments of shared silence, underscoring how our sense of being and worth should not be tethered to our output. This episode blends practical wisdom, humor, vulnerability, and a fresh look at ancient spiritual rhythms to uncover what it truly means to find rest in today’s frenetic world.
Three Key Takeaways
1. Rest Isn’t Just Physical—It’s Spiritual and Emotional
Ross Stackhouse describes several types of rest: body, mind, and spirit. He shares stories of exhaustion from parenthood and insomnia, connecting these experiences to the deeper spiritual need for stillness. True rest isn’t just about sleep or relaxing on the couch; it’s about entering a "boundaried space" where we disconnect from our need for productivity and simply exist in the presence of God (or, for some, in mindful awareness).
Ross illustrates this through his practices of morning porch time and breathing exercises, emphasizing that rest is not inactivity but a kind of spiritual presence. The episode encourages listeners to reflect on what kind of rest they truly need and how often—whether it’s found in silent meditation, time in nature, deep conversation, or simply being present without distraction.
2. You Are Not Defined by Your Productivity
One of the central themes is the danger of conflating identity with output. Ross Stackhouse confesses his own tendency to turn even spiritual disciplines, like scripture reading, into "work." He cautions listeners against measuring self-worth by lists, accomplishments, or meeting endless demands. The ancient practice of Sabbath—a 24-hour period free of work—is lifted up as not only biblical, but radically countercultural and necessary.
By untangling identity from productivity, Ross argues, we can begin to work from a place of rest rather than rest only after achieving enough. This change of mindset makes work more joyful and rest more restorative.
3. Rest Requires Community and Intentional Practice
Rest is not a solo pursuit—community is essential. Through listener participation, Ross Stackhouse surfaces insights on the importance of safe spaces and trustworthy people for true rest. The need for others to "make the meal" or "clean up" echoes the idea that healthy rest is communal: when everyone contributes, everyone can experience rest.
He also emphasizes that developing habits of rest—moments in the day, full Sabbaths, longer retreats—requires intentional boundaries (like turning off phones and stepping away from email). While listeners admit their difficulty in resting, the episode concludes with encouragement to start small, accept where you are, and lean into community support.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a gentle but firm invitation to reclaim rhythms of rest in a world obsessed with busyness. Whether you’re burned out or just looking to deepen your spiritual and emotional well-being, Ross Stackhouse offers both challenge and hope: rest is possible, vital, and worth pursuing—not just for productivity's sake, but for fully living.
Subscribe to HeavenEarth Church Podcast for more conversations on balancing work, rest, and identity.
