Wrestling with Rest: Inviting Youth to Discover the Gift of Sabbath

by Nathan T Stucky, Kenda Creasy Dean (Foreword)

Busyness is a sickness of the soul that affects many today—and it is especially detrimental to young people, who are finding their identity shaped by ongoing resume-building, constant digital communication, and unceasing activity. The last thing they have time for is rest. But rest—Sabbath—is necessary for youth, not just because of who they are socially, emotionally, and physiologically, but because of who God has made them to be and wants them to be. Nathan Stucky shows that rest challenges youth whose identities are rooted in productivity, efficiency, achievement, and accom­plishment. For them, the notion of Sabbath grace both appeals and disorients. Yet through the Sabbath, God invites young people into an identity rooted and grounded in the grace, life, and provision of God.  Wrestling with Rest  offers biblical and practical advice for helping youth to discover their God-given identity, in which they can truly find rest.

Genres: Nonfiction, Faith

246 pages, Paperback

Published April 23, 2019

Reviews

[Kate]

Reviewed this book for a guest lecture I’m giving in a spiritual formation class, on my experiences with Sabbath keeping. It was a great introduction to the concept through a practical theology lens, & I think another volume is needed to guide practitioners on some practical steps to guiding their youth through sabbath practices (what should I actually do, physically, on my sabbath? Sleep? Read? Pray? The answer is yes, all. But someone needs to spell it out sometimes.).

[Cora]

Gave me a lot to think about around the practice and point of Sabbath and how to model and teach it to youth. But, this book is not just for those working with young people. It has a lot to say for anyone wondering why we should practice Sabbath and what exactly "practice" could mean.

[Joy]

This book makes a case for the Sabbath, arguing that it reorients our attention from our productivity to God's actions. I think this is essential reading for any Christian, and especially those involved in ministry.

[Jen Bradbury]

An excellent exploration of Sabbath, based on research. While this book is about youth ministry, any church worker or parent would benefit from
It.

[Ashlee Mortenson]

I don’t think I could fully appreciate this book in my current season. I hope to pick it up in the future and be totally wrecked by it.

[Annah]

PTS Professor and Farminary director Nate Stucky writes about Sabbath and its role in the lives of young people, incorporating personal research. Simple, helpful, thoughtful.