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I’ve been there with you—calendar packed to the brim and the feeling that you’re always one step behind. But what if the solution isn’t cramming more in, but rather the counter-cultural practice of intentionally leaving breathing room? Creating intentional spaces isn’t about being less productive (and I question why I worry about that so often), it’s about being available for the things that matter most to God.

When you fill every moment, you close yourself off to the Spirit’s spontaneous promptings and divine appointments that often come disguised as interruptions.

Last month, I found a much-used Pinterest image online to demonstrate how I ‘couldn’t fit another thing in’. After contemplating it for a few minutes, I laughed. I felt the familiar Holy Spirit tap on my shoulder, “Come, sit beside me on that couch”. God turned what I saw as a crowded, jammed-up space into an invitation. There was space!

The Blank Space Revolution

Doing absolutely nothing is the most radical thing you could do today! In our culture of constant motion and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to forget one of the most profound spiritual disciplines: the art of sacred space.

Think about your calendar right now. Is every slot filled with meetings, errands, obligations, and activities? Even the most meaningful work—whether it’s ministry, caregiving, or serving others—can drain you dry if you don’t create space to be refilled. Here’s a gentle challenge: what would happen if you intentionally scheduled blank spaces? Not for catching up on emails or squeezing in one more task, but for genuine rest and connection with Jesus.

Stepping into God’s Slipstream

There is a beautiful concept that our TPAC (The Prophetic Artist Community) group discuss often: living in the Holy Spirit’s slipstream.

If you’ve ever watched cyclists in a race, you know that riding in someone’s slipstream means being pulled along by their momentum rather than fighting against the wind on your own.

In a flock of geese in formation, there is ‘lifting power’ that comes from flying together. When a goose drops out of the V-formation, it requires a great deal more effort and energy to fly, but in formation, the flock conserves energy. They are stronger together.

True rest isn’t about doing nothing—it’s about positioning yourself together with God and doing life in His slipstream. Most likely, this will look different for each person. For some, it’s early morning solitude with coffee and Scripture, or it’s evening walks where every step becomes a prayer. For others, it can be moments of taking a deep breath and centring yourself amongst chaos at any time, day or night. The key is learning to move with God’s rhythm rather than constantly swimming upstream.

The Sacred Art of Saying No

There’s something sacred about saying ‘no’. It’s okay to stop, to toss aside the ‘to-do’ list, and jump off the achievement treadmill. As a society, we don’t talk enough about needing downtime. Whether you’re highly sensitive, introverted, or simply human with a finite mind, your need for rest is how God designed you.

Some practical ways to honour this need:

• Guard your margins: Build buffer time around commitments.
• Practice the holy “no”: Not every opportunity is God’s opportunity for you.
• Embrace your wiring: If you need quiet to recharge, don’t apologise for it.
• Fill up before you pour out: You can’t give what you don’t have.

Life’s Beautiful Spaghetti Run

God’s path is like “cooked spaghetti”. It’s not raw and straight, and it’s never how you think it will be. It’s winding, tangled, and unpredictable, but ultimately leads you exactly where you need to go. These unexpected twists aren’t delays and detours; they’re divine appointments where you gather the tools and treasures you’ll need for what’s ahead. These are times of God building you into who you need to be. Don’t rush past them or try to shortcut the bends; don’t dismiss or despise them.

Instead of fighting the unpredictability and trying to see around the next bend, lean into the unknown adventure, knowing you are where you’re meant to be and trusting that God knows the pathway.

Rest as Resistance

In a world that worships busyness, rest becomes a radical act of faith. When you rest, you declare that your worth isn’t tied to your productivity. You affirm that God is still God even when you’re not striving, working, or proving yourself.

Consider how rest is woven into the very fabric of creation. God rested on the seventh day. Jesus modelled time away from the crowds for us. He made space, times of isolation, in early mornings and evenings. He withdrew to solitary places after intensive times of ministry. Rest and recharge are important parts of doing life. 

Creating Your Sacred Spaces

The beautiful thing about leaving space to meet with Jesus is that it’s not complicated. It doesn’t require a cathedral or going “up the mountain” for a perfectly organised quiet time.

• Nature’s sanctuary: A walk through meadows, sitting by water, or simply watching the sky. Some of the most profound encounters happen when you connect with nature.
• Everyday worship: Shopping with grandchildren, cooking dinner, or driving to work can all become meeting places when you realise they are not separate parts of you.
• Breathing prayers: Simple deep breathing exercises can centre you in God’s presence when you are intentional.
• Imaginative rest: Using your God-given creativity to picture yourself in peaceful places with Jesus. Put yourself in the ‘secret place’ in a painting or an image that speaks to you.

The Swing Set Metaphor

Imagine being on a swing, but you’re exhausted from trying to pump your legs and build momentum. Then Jesus comes up behind you and says, “Let me push you for a while.” Surrendering to His rhythm doesn’t mean becoming passive; it means learning to move with His timing rather than fighting against it.

This is the dance of faith: knowing when to act and when to rest, when to push forward and when to let yourself be carried.

Practical Steps for Sacred Space

Start Small: You don’t need hours; even two minutes of intentional breathing and turning your heart toward God can reset your spirit.

Follow Jesus’ Model: He sought solitude in the early morning and evening. Find the rhythm that works for your season of life.

Use Your Senses: Notice the feel of sunshine, the sound of birds, the taste of your morning coffee. God speaks through all of creation.

Practice Naming Your Faith: When doubt creeps in, remind yourself of the areas in your life where faith works for you, say it out loud and ‘borrow’ that faith to use here and now.

Embrace the Unforced Rhythm: Like rests in music that create space for the next beautiful note, spiritual rests are the spaces for God to create the next movement in your life.

The Bottom Line

You were created for continuous connection with the Holy Spirit. Not just during the spiritual moments, but woven throughout the ordinary, beautiful mess of daily life. Making space for this connection isn’t difficult or selfish; it’s essential. It’s how you stay immersed in love rather than running on empty.

Jesus is gently inviting you into real rest. Intentionally doing nothing that creates just a little more sacred space in your life. Your reward for learning the unforced rhythms of grace is a more peaceful, connected, contented you.

Because sometimes the most productive thing you can do is curl up on the couch in the arms of the One who loves you most.

“Come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-30 [MSG]