The Need to Continue – personal thoughts on personal Sabbath.

The Need to Continue
Pastor Calvin Cook
October 7, 2025

Scripture: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” — Luke 5:16 (NIV)

There is nothing like my quiet early mornings. It is healing for my hurt, ointment for my wounds, and comfort for the things I can speak to no one about. It is drawing near to God, wherever I am.

There are times that these early mornings become a challenge. Not to do it, but yet to actually do it, not just physically but spiritually and mentally. For just a bit of time to draw away. I am presently on a retreat with other Pastors from the AWAC. Our focus for these couple days is just about retreat, sabbath, and finding the rhythm in our relationship with Jesus. Or at least that is what I am experiencing. It is about knowing the need of what we need to continue. Not just for physical appearance, or for our needs to be met, but what in very busy and chaotic times I/we need to continue.

Luke 5 really speaks to the rhythm even the busyness of Jesus’ ministry—crowds pressing in, miracles unfolding, lives being transformed— but yet verse 16 inspires us to relate to a holy pattern that often went unnoticed: He slipped away.

Jesus taught us the need of withdrawing from the noise to commune with the Father. Even in the midst of His greatest, He stepped away to a solitary place—not because He was weary of people, but because He was devoted to His relationship with God. It was there—in stillness, silence, and solitude—that His strength was renewed, His mission refocused, and His heart aligned with the Father’s will.

If Jesus needed these moments, why can’t we realize how much we need these same moments. The practice of stepping aside to pray, read, listen, just really develop a holy rhythm.

ts is not always easy for me but it has become a discipline. Life pulls us in countless directions—family, ministry, business, community—but to continue walking in grace and purpose, we must learn to “slip away” regularly. And not to slip away from God, but to slip away where we allow God to take over. When we do, the noise fades, the worries settle, and our hearts can hear the still, small voice that says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)