Sabbatical Part 2
“A great move of God begins by not moving.” — Jon Tyson
We were given a 4-month sabbatical by the church. In case you wondered, this meant 4 months completely away from church, work, or ministry. Four months of no preaching, counseling, leading, meeting, emailing, or doing. Just 4 months to slow down, be still, and rest.
A lot of people have asked what we did on sabbatical. What did you do with 4 months off? Watch Netflix? Work out? Travel? Take naps? Learn a new hobby? Finally attack the honey-do list? Yes to some of those.
Before I move on, I need to share this. In the fall of 2025, I read through the Gospel of Mark. Through this reading, the Lord spoke POWERFULLY through Mark 6, where Jesus spoke these words: “Do not fear, only believe.” I began to write this down everywhere. Before we even stepped away, the Lord was telling us not to fear but to believe what He was doing and speaking to us. This was so powerfully expressed to me when I read it that, to this day, I begin every journal entry with these initials: DNFOB (Do Not Fear, Only Believe). Sometimes God asks us to step out in obedience into the unknown. He will sustain you when He does.
Our sabbatical, as I shared in the first part of this series, was centered on obedience, rest, and abiding. We wanted God to move in a powerful way in our lives, refresh us, heal us, and move near.
“A great move of God begins by not moving.” — Jon Tyson
January. Man, January was HARD. It was hard to pull away, hard to stop worrying about the ministry of the church, and hard not to worry about and check on people we loved, especially those I knew were hurting. It was also hard because people didn’t know what to do with me. Could they still reach out? Were they supposed to ignore me or go to someone else? It was tough not to do what I had done for my entire adult life: go to church, lead, preach, and disciple. Also, I HATE sitting still, so just being was tough.
On top of these things, January felt dark and heavy. God felt far away. I look back in my journals, and the daily entries are like those of a whiny baby. I now had all this time to meet with God, and He didn’t seem to want to meet with me. A good friend encouraged me to read the book Dark Night of the Soul. I will just say, don’t do that when things feel dark. Each week of January, I would be a dad, be a husband, go to therapy, try to read, try to rest, try to be still, and it just didn’t work. I kept showing up, looking for the Lord, but in January, He was nowhere to be found.
In a word, January was frustrating. Not what I wanted or expected. Winter. Who likes winter? Bring me some summer.
The highlight of January was getting connected with some new friends who live out west. They are about 20 years ahead of us in life, and a lot of their life and ministry experience mirrored ours. We began to meet with them, and they started a process with us to reflect on our 25 years of ministry. What a gift this couple has become to us.
February. February came in feeling like the light was off, and as we progressed, it felt like the Lord started turning the light on again. Think of a dimmer switch. I kept being a dad and a husband, going to therapy, processing our story of ministry, and trying to read and rest.
In February, at the encouragement of a friend from church, I started reading Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. If I could be vulnerable, this request seemed below me at first. I am a pastor, and in my view, this book/study is for new and young Christians. But I did it to honor this friend.
This book began to do a work in my life that I did not expect. If you have never read Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, make it your next read. The way God spoke to me through this book and awakened a dead man stuck in “winter” still moves me. It ultimately moved me to see and experience God in my life again. Where He was at work, what He was doing...
As Florida spring started showing up in early February, it felt like something was turning in my heart. The Lord had to root out some old junk, sin, and bad habits before He could show up powerfully in me again. February began with me questioning my call to ministry and ended with me feeling excited about what God might do when I came back.
I need to share this: two huge lessons for us in the first two months of sabbatical came in the form of three words.
BE STILL
WAIT
BE STILL, as in, learn to be still in a way that recognizes that my life, my ministry, my family, my church, etc., are not about me or for me.
WAIT, as in WAIT FOR THE LORD. Wait for the Lord to show up, answer, provide, revive, whatever the need or issue is, and don’t move until He does.
“A great move of God begins by not moving.” — Jon Tyson
BE STILL
WAIT
These were huge!
MARCH. March was sort of great. By March, we were feeling alive and rested again. New rhythms were being established, breakthroughs in therapy, etc. In March, the Lord felt really close, like a friend might. We were reminded of His care, His presence, His goodness, and how He desires to show us and bring us these things.
In March, I finished Experiencing God and picked up a book called The Unhurried Pastor. The Lord used this book to begin to teach me about the need to go slow. Ever heard this: “Shepherds rarely run”? The idea is that hurry is not the way of the Lord. God has no reason to hurry; therefore, those who know God have no reason to hurry. “Slow down, Josh. You are loved.” That was what the Lord seemed to be saying to me over and over.
In March, I went on a prayer retreat. I stayed at a friend’s place about an hour away. As I prepared to go, I was excited! Eager! To spend 3 days alone, quietly with the Lord. What a gift!
BRO, it was HARD! To be only with the Lord, to be quiet and still for more than 24 hours, was really hard for me. Slowing down in a fast world, being still in a busy world, and being quiet in a loud world is a fight, and I saw this so clearly those few days. I look forward to trying again one day. That is, trying to be still and quiet for a few days on a prayer retreat.
APRIL. In April, there was a desire or readiness in us to return! April 5 was the first Easter in our married life (23 years) that Beth and I were able to just go to church and worship Jesus with our family. What a gift! April 5 was also our wedding anniversary, so it was a cool day all around. We had tacos with the family for an anniversary lunch on Easter.
Colorado. In mid-April, we took a trip, just Beth and me, to Colorado. We left Jax feeling really excited about all the Lord had done in us during sabbatical. We felt whole again. We had slowed down, Beth and I had reconnected, home was better, our souls were better, we were moving slower, and we were really enjoying our time.
We sort of thought the good stuff was over. Then we went to Colorado.
Sometimes, in my experience, God just reminds you how much He really loves and cares for you. This trip was that. A time to hike, fish, play in the snow, and hear the Lord say that He brings all seasons into our lives for our good and His glory. Even winter.
The trip to Colorado, much of which will remain private, will go down as a time when the Lord moved in and around Beth and me in ways that, still months later, we are trying to process.
The other highlight of April for me was Elisabeth Elliot. I read two books by her that really challenged my calling and leadership in a way that no man ever has. TRUTH. She’s a new hero. Her book Shadow of the Almighty will go down as one of the greatest books I have ever read. I keep a copy next to my Bible at home.
On May 2, I wrote this in my journal: “Tomorrow, after 4 months away on sabbatical, we enter back in. Lord, I am anxious and fearful, but eager, believing You are readying Beth and me. Lord, give us wisdom. Lord, help us go slowly. Lord, help us go together, tethered to You and abiding in You above all.”
That has still been our prayer.
So, what did we do on sabbatical? We obeyed as God created space in our lives to show up again, to heal, to restore, and to remind us of what He had called us to do.
We also learned and grew in the area of ABIDING. While we haven’t arrived (and won’t until Heaven), much of our time over 4 months was God cutting away and removing things from our lives so we could see what it means to truly ABIDE.
To BE WITH JESUS. DAILY.
Ultimately, our time of sabbatical was a time of not moving so God could move greatly in our lives.
“A great move of God begins by not moving.” — Jon Tyson
Thanks for following along!
Would love to hear your thoughts!
josh@refugejaxchurch.com
We were given a 4-month sabbatical by the church. In case you wondered, this meant 4 months completely away from church, work, or ministry. Four months of no preaching, counseling, leading, meeting, emailing, or doing. Just 4 months to slow down, be still, and rest.
A lot of people have asked what we did on sabbatical. What did you do with 4 months off? Watch Netflix? Work out? Travel? Take naps? Learn a new hobby? Finally attack the honey-do list? Yes to some of those.
Before I move on, I need to share this. In the fall of 2025, I read through the Gospel of Mark. Through this reading, the Lord spoke POWERFULLY through Mark 6, where Jesus spoke these words: “Do not fear, only believe.” I began to write this down everywhere. Before we even stepped away, the Lord was telling us not to fear but to believe what He was doing and speaking to us. This was so powerfully expressed to me when I read it that, to this day, I begin every journal entry with these initials: DNFOB (Do Not Fear, Only Believe). Sometimes God asks us to step out in obedience into the unknown. He will sustain you when He does.
Our sabbatical, as I shared in the first part of this series, was centered on obedience, rest, and abiding. We wanted God to move in a powerful way in our lives, refresh us, heal us, and move near.
“A great move of God begins by not moving.” — Jon Tyson
January. Man, January was HARD. It was hard to pull away, hard to stop worrying about the ministry of the church, and hard not to worry about and check on people we loved, especially those I knew were hurting. It was also hard because people didn’t know what to do with me. Could they still reach out? Were they supposed to ignore me or go to someone else? It was tough not to do what I had done for my entire adult life: go to church, lead, preach, and disciple. Also, I HATE sitting still, so just being was tough.
On top of these things, January felt dark and heavy. God felt far away. I look back in my journals, and the daily entries are like those of a whiny baby. I now had all this time to meet with God, and He didn’t seem to want to meet with me. A good friend encouraged me to read the book Dark Night of the Soul. I will just say, don’t do that when things feel dark. Each week of January, I would be a dad, be a husband, go to therapy, try to read, try to rest, try to be still, and it just didn’t work. I kept showing up, looking for the Lord, but in January, He was nowhere to be found.
In a word, January was frustrating. Not what I wanted or expected. Winter. Who likes winter? Bring me some summer.
The highlight of January was getting connected with some new friends who live out west. They are about 20 years ahead of us in life, and a lot of their life and ministry experience mirrored ours. We began to meet with them, and they started a process with us to reflect on our 25 years of ministry. What a gift this couple has become to us.
February. February came in feeling like the light was off, and as we progressed, it felt like the Lord started turning the light on again. Think of a dimmer switch. I kept being a dad and a husband, going to therapy, processing our story of ministry, and trying to read and rest.
In February, at the encouragement of a friend from church, I started reading Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. If I could be vulnerable, this request seemed below me at first. I am a pastor, and in my view, this book/study is for new and young Christians. But I did it to honor this friend.
This book began to do a work in my life that I did not expect. If you have never read Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, make it your next read. The way God spoke to me through this book and awakened a dead man stuck in “winter” still moves me. It ultimately moved me to see and experience God in my life again. Where He was at work, what He was doing...
As Florida spring started showing up in early February, it felt like something was turning in my heart. The Lord had to root out some old junk, sin, and bad habits before He could show up powerfully in me again. February began with me questioning my call to ministry and ended with me feeling excited about what God might do when I came back.
I need to share this: two huge lessons for us in the first two months of sabbatical came in the form of three words.
BE STILL
WAIT
BE STILL, as in, learn to be still in a way that recognizes that my life, my ministry, my family, my church, etc., are not about me or for me.
WAIT, as in WAIT FOR THE LORD. Wait for the Lord to show up, answer, provide, revive, whatever the need or issue is, and don’t move until He does.
“A great move of God begins by not moving.” — Jon Tyson
BE STILL
WAIT
These were huge!
MARCH. March was sort of great. By March, we were feeling alive and rested again. New rhythms were being established, breakthroughs in therapy, etc. In March, the Lord felt really close, like a friend might. We were reminded of His care, His presence, His goodness, and how He desires to show us and bring us these things.
In March, I finished Experiencing God and picked up a book called The Unhurried Pastor. The Lord used this book to begin to teach me about the need to go slow. Ever heard this: “Shepherds rarely run”? The idea is that hurry is not the way of the Lord. God has no reason to hurry; therefore, those who know God have no reason to hurry. “Slow down, Josh. You are loved.” That was what the Lord seemed to be saying to me over and over.
In March, I went on a prayer retreat. I stayed at a friend’s place about an hour away. As I prepared to go, I was excited! Eager! To spend 3 days alone, quietly with the Lord. What a gift!
BRO, it was HARD! To be only with the Lord, to be quiet and still for more than 24 hours, was really hard for me. Slowing down in a fast world, being still in a busy world, and being quiet in a loud world is a fight, and I saw this so clearly those few days. I look forward to trying again one day. That is, trying to be still and quiet for a few days on a prayer retreat.
APRIL. In April, there was a desire or readiness in us to return! April 5 was the first Easter in our married life (23 years) that Beth and I were able to just go to church and worship Jesus with our family. What a gift! April 5 was also our wedding anniversary, so it was a cool day all around. We had tacos with the family for an anniversary lunch on Easter.
Colorado. In mid-April, we took a trip, just Beth and me, to Colorado. We left Jax feeling really excited about all the Lord had done in us during sabbatical. We felt whole again. We had slowed down, Beth and I had reconnected, home was better, our souls were better, we were moving slower, and we were really enjoying our time.
We sort of thought the good stuff was over. Then we went to Colorado.
Sometimes, in my experience, God just reminds you how much He really loves and cares for you. This trip was that. A time to hike, fish, play in the snow, and hear the Lord say that He brings all seasons into our lives for our good and His glory. Even winter.
The trip to Colorado, much of which will remain private, will go down as a time when the Lord moved in and around Beth and me in ways that, still months later, we are trying to process.
The other highlight of April for me was Elisabeth Elliot. I read two books by her that really challenged my calling and leadership in a way that no man ever has. TRUTH. She’s a new hero. Her book Shadow of the Almighty will go down as one of the greatest books I have ever read. I keep a copy next to my Bible at home.
On May 2, I wrote this in my journal: “Tomorrow, after 4 months away on sabbatical, we enter back in. Lord, I am anxious and fearful, but eager, believing You are readying Beth and me. Lord, give us wisdom. Lord, help us go slowly. Lord, help us go together, tethered to You and abiding in You above all.”
That has still been our prayer.
So, what did we do on sabbatical? We obeyed as God created space in our lives to show up again, to heal, to restore, and to remind us of what He had called us to do.
We also learned and grew in the area of ABIDING. While we haven’t arrived (and won’t until Heaven), much of our time over 4 months was God cutting away and removing things from our lives so we could see what it means to truly ABIDE.
To BE WITH JESUS. DAILY.
Ultimately, our time of sabbatical was a time of not moving so God could move greatly in our lives.
“A great move of God begins by not moving.” — Jon Tyson
Thanks for following along!
Would love to hear your thoughts!
josh@refugejaxchurch.com
Recent
Sabbatical Part 2
November 13th, 2026
SENT HOME: Shaping Souls: The Sacred Responsibility of Pointing Children to Jesus
November 10th, 2026
Sabbatical Part 1
November 6th, 2026
SENT HOME: RAISING ARROWS - What God's Word Says About Parenting
November 2nd, 2026
SENT HOME: Making Your Home a Place of Abiding
October 26th, 2026
Archive
2026
January
February
March
April
July
August
September
October
2025
April
August
September
October
November
No Comments