This week my resistance to Sabbath and Solitude didn’t come from busyness but from physical weakness—COVID. Lethargy, headaches, and congestion left me drained and unmotivated. It’s difficult to lean into spiritual practices when your body simply wants to rest.

In those quiet, low-energy moments, my Scripture memory cards became a gift. They gave me something small yet meaningful to hold onto, keeping my mind rooted in God’s Word even when my body felt unsteady. Still, I found myself tempted to drift toward my smartphone—the very “Trojan horse” I’ve named before—as a way to fill the void of boredom. It was a reminder of how easy it is to substitute distraction for presence.

As I thought about my circumstances, my mind went to Brad Anagaran, our Easter speaker, who encountered God in the darkness of a small jail cell. His testimony reminds me that when we are taken off course, mindset matters. Instead of asking, “Why, God?” perhaps the better prayer is, “What for, God? What do You want to show me in this season?”

Two of my memory verses helped me anchor that mindset this week:

• “No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame… Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.” (Psalm 25:3–4, NIV)
• “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV)

These verses remind me that God wastes nothing. Even sickness, even setbacks, even seasons of low energy can be used by Him for good. The call is to trust—not in my strength, but in His purpose.

The Joy and Power of Returning to Scripture Memorization

This Sabbath morning I devoted a good portion of my time to memorizing Scripture. I now have 17 flash cards—and counting. Getting back into this rhythm feels life-giving. There’s something about the very act of committing God’s Word to memory that strengthens me, almost like the feeling after a good workout or the refreshment of a healthy shake.

As I worked through my Sabbath Library, making fresh connections between what I read, I sensed the Spirit drawing me deeper. Each verse, each insight, seemed to weave together, reminding me that God’s Word forms the foundation of my spiritual health.

I can honestly say—I’m back. And it feels good to be here, resting in His Word and letting it shape me from the inside out.

Scripture and Solitude

Once again, it is in Scripture and Solitude where I most clearly experience God’s nearness. I am thankful for the quiet and for returning to health, which has allowed me to linger in His presence.

What amazes me is how the reading each Sabbath feels so curated for that very day. Though I have many books in my Sabbath Library, what I’m led to open and how long I spend in each one seems guided beyond my own choosing. And the result is remarkable: connections emerge across sources that, on the surface, seem unrelated.

This week, insights from 1 Timothy wove together with Matt Bloom’s Flourishing in Ministry and Andy Crouch’s Strong and Weak. Different voices, different contexts, yet somehow a unified message. It feels like the Spirit stitching together wisdom just for this moment in my journey, reminding me that when we create space for Scripture and Solitude, God weaves His truth into our lives in ways we could never orchestrate ourselves.