A couple of days ago, I read about one of the world’s strangest contests: The 10^th Annual “Space Out” Competition held in South Korea.

Contestants who enter the “arena” are required to “zone out” for 90 minutes. Essentially, they need to prove they are the best at doing…wait for it… absolutely nothing.

That includes no chatting, no dancing, no fidgeting, no sleeping, and definitely no checking their phones. The winner is determined by their artistic score (voted by the audience that’s watching) and their technical score (the most stable heart rate).

The contest was the idea of an artist in South Korea as a protest against a culture that demands constant productivity. After experiencing burnout, she felt it was time to celebrate doing nothing.

There’s probably a tired and harried young mom reading this right now going, “Someone PLEASE tell me how to enroll in this do-nothing contest!!”

Or maybe you’re balancing work, home, your kid’s teenage angst, caring for older parents, handling church responsibilities, and thinking, “That contest sounds like a perfect vacation.”

Without a doubt, most of us are overwhelmed and feel more stretched out than a frayed elastic. All of us need rest.

But the Bible’s definition of “rest” is different—and far more beautiful and life-giving—than “doing nothing.”

The answer to feeling overwhelmed is not zoning out. It is tuning in. To truly find rest we need to go to the One who has designed us and knows exactly how we’re wired.

It is being refreshed as we gaze at the beauty of the Lord.

It is being reminded of our worth in Him.

It is receiving from Him our identity and purpose.

It is releasing control to the One who is sovereign.

Without a doubt, productivity can turn into a trap that sucks the energy out of you. Burnout. Stress. Anxiety. Depression. Those are mental health issues that Christians face on the regular.

Friend, sometimes, it feels like you don’t have the option but to go, go, go. Looking back at my own life, yes, there were seasons when it felt like I had no choice but to be busy. I remember the sheer exhaustion of being a new mommy with a baby who hollered through the night and didn’t quite believe in the concept of napping.

But then there were times I picked busy. Because busy makes us feel indispensable. Because busy shows the world that we can live up to labels. Because busy proves that we are enough and capable. Sometimes, busy is a badge we wear with pride. Till there is a breakdown of our entire being.

Corrie ten Boom once said that if the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy. Busy cuts off our connection with God and others. But in teaching and modeling for us Sabbath rest, God reminds us that we are limited in our productivity and efficiency. And that’s a good thing. When we realize and admit our limitedness, God can restore, renew, and refresh us in His power.

When we pause, it is not merely to “space out” but to be still before God and give Him the opportunity to lovingly tend to our souls.

If you would like to read more about rest, here’s the link to my YouVersion devotional, “Finding Rest in a Busy World.” I wrote this Bible Plan several years ago. It feels like life has only sped up since then. But in the midst of busy, may we find rest for our souls.

Friend, it’s good to be productive and use our time efficiently. But may we embrace our limitedness, weave rest into our rhythms, and depend on God to do what He has called us to.

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