The Rest of God with Mark Buchanan
Rest can be one of the hardest things for missionaries and ministry leaders to embrace. There is always another person to help, another need to meet, another project to finish, or another problem that needs attention. Busyness can even begin to feel like a sign of faithfulness. But when we continually push forward without stopping, eventually something begins to suffer.

In this episode, we talk with author and professor Mark Buchanan about his book The Rest of God and why Sabbath is so important for those serving in ministry and missions. We discuss what Sabbath really means, why God designed us to rest, and what we risk when we refuse to slow down.

Mark shares practical insight into how Sabbath can keep us from becoming brittle and breaking under the pressures of life and ministry. We also talk about some of the internal hurdles that make rest difficult, including guilt, feeling lazy, and struggling to trust that things will still get done when we stop. Mark also addresses the practical challenges of creating space for Sabbath in the middle of demanding ministry schedules and cross cultural life.

In This Episode, We Cover:
✅ What led Mark Buchanan to write The Rest of God
✅ What Sabbath is and how we should think about it today
✅ Why Sabbath matters to God and why it matters to us
✅ The dangers of wearing busyness like a badge of honor
✅ How regular rest can keep us from becoming brittle and burned out
✅ Internal hurdles that keep missionaries and ministry leaders from resting
✅ Practical challenges to building Sabbath into a busy schedule
✅ How to overcome guilt and learn to trust God when we stop working
✅ Principles for sabbaticals and extended seasons of rest in missions

Sabbath is not simply about doing less. It is about learning to trust God, recognizing our limits, and creating space to receive the rest He designed us to need. Developing healthy rhythms of work and rest can help missionaries and ministry leaders remain strong, healthy, and faithful for the long haul.

Mark Buchanan is an author and professor who lives between Calgary, Alberta, and Enderby, British Columbia. He is married to Cheryl, and they have three adult children. His writing and teaching have helped Christians think more deeply about spiritual formation, rest, faithfulness, and what it means to live well in the presence of God.

Show notes and links:

https://www.kylefarran.com/missionslife/38-the-rest-of-god-mark-buchanan

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