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About

In this powerful episode of the Resilient Pastor podcast, host Glenn Packiam sits down with Ruth Haley Barton—one of the leading voices in Christian spiritual formation for over 25 years. They explore her latest book on embracing rhythms of work and rest, diving deep into the transformative practices of Sabbath, solitude, longing, desire, and the critical importance of sabbaticals for pastors and church leaders. Ruth shares candidly about her own journey through burnout, a life-changing bike accident, and how attending to holy desire and desperation can lead to sustainable, joyful ministry. This conversation offers hope and practical wisdom for leaders battling exhaustion, digital addiction, and the pressure to perform.

Whether you're a pastor experiencing burnout or a church leader seeking healthier rhythms, this episode delivers timely, Scripture-rooted insights on prioritizing soul care, protecting your relationship with God, and modeling sustainable leadership for your congregation.

Key Takeaways

• Spiritual transformation begins with attending to desire and desperation rather than guilt, "oughts," or external pressure.
• Sabbath is the kingpin of a life well lived with God—24 hours of regular, intentional rest, delight, pleasure, and community.
• Solitude and Sabbath complement each other: solitude is daily time alone with God to hear His voice; Sabbath is communal, replenishing, and radically unplugged.
• Technology has become a greater addiction than work. True Sabbath requires complete disconnection from devices, social media, and notifications.
• Sabbaticals provide deeper restoration beyond weekly Sabbath. Pastors especially need extended fallow seasons (ideally 4–6 months) for hormonal, emotional, and spiritual recovery.
• Healthy leadership rhythms must be practiced communally. Churches should align calendars so staff and congregations can truly rest together.
• Spiritual direction is invaluable for pastors, providing a safe place to process desire, chaos, and discern God’s voice.

Highlights

• “I’m tired of helping other people enjoy God. I just want to enjoy God for myself.” — Ruth Haley Barton
• “Sabbath is the kingpin of a life well lived in God… I don’t think I’d be alive and doing my ministry if it wasn’t for the practice of the Sabbath.”
• “Sabbath is for pleasure and delight… taking naps, making love in the afternoon, enjoying food, and being with your family.”
• “The feeling of peace that starts to come over me as I unplug from my technology is profound. I feel protected. I feel private. I feel loved by God.”
• “You have to have desire first… these desires are what propel us to wrestle with the knotty issues that Sabbath raises.”
• “Solitude prepared me to be able to say yes to Sabbath because Sabbath is more radical.”
• “When the Sabbath comes, my whole body feels it… the rhythm gets into us.”

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