The Power of the Pause
We live in a culture that glorifies hustle, speed, and overstimulation. Our calendars are crammed. Our phones are never more than a few inches from our faces, and somewhere along the way, we’ve confused motion with progress and busyness with productivity.
But what if the very thing keeping us from our breakthrough is our refusal to pause?
Put Yourself on Airplane Mode
In a sermon titled, “The Power of the Pause,” Apostle Mike Signorelli of V1 Church delivers a countercultural call to return to God’s rhythm—a rhythm of both work and rest. He likens modern life to an airplane trying to take off while refusing to enter airplane mode.
“Many of you have never put your distractions on airplane mode, therefore, your purpose has never taken flight,” Apostle Mike declared.
No one can ascend to where God wants them while staying connected to distraction. On a plane, passengers are instructed to switch to airplane mode before a plane can rise above turbulence and reach cruising altitude. Why? Because certain signals can interfere with the aircraft’s ability to communicate and navigate. In the same way, our constant connection to distractions—social media, emails, noise—might be the very thing interfering with your spiritual elevation.
We’re a generation so uncomfortable with silence that even our rest is noisy. We scroll when we’re relaxing. We respond to texts during church services and even our own private worship time. We never really have downtime because our nervous systems never actually downshifts.
Jesus, however, modeled something different: “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” – Mark 6:31. He didn’t just suggest rest, He commanded it. He withdrew, unplugged, and paused.
Rest Is Not Laziness – It’s Worship
We often view rest as a luxury, or worse, laziness. But biblically, rest is sacred. In Leviticus 25:3–5, God even commanded the land to rest every seventh year: “For six years you shall sow your field...but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land.”
If even the land requires a break, how much more do we? Rest isn’t about binge-watching Netflix in the name of self-care. It’s not passive—it’s active trust in God. It’s saying, “I don’t need to do it all. I trust that You can do more with my obedience than I can with my overworking.”
“To rest well, you must prepare well. The way you rest is a form of worship unto God,” Apostle Mike advised.
God receives worship through rest, not just through songs. By putting away all the distractions and surrendering our time and schedules to God we honor Him.
Pause before the Purpose
Science agrees with scripture that our bodies were designed for rhythm—sunrise and sunset, day and night. But now we’ve overridden that design with light at night, cell phones and constant alerts. We’ve trained our nervous systems to stay in high-alert mode, which leads to burnt out.
Imagine creating a space for stillness: one evening a week with no screens. A daily 30-minute walk without headphones, a meal with your family—no phones allowed, a real day of Sabbath. This is not about legalism, it is about liberation.
“What if we protected our central nervous system from all this stimulation?” Pastor Mike affirmed. “Rest is not optional. It's sacred.”
Jesus was God incarnate, and even He had a preparation season. In Luke 2:52, we see Him growing in wisdom and stature for 30 years before He ever did a single public miracle. His three years of ministry came after three decades of development. For some people, overworking is because you feel hidden and unused, even overlooked. But what if this is your pause for preparation?
“The preparation season is a luxury. Once you’re fully in your calling, it becomes a burden as much as a blessing,” The minister warned.
In other words, don’t despise the slow season. God may be refining you before He reveals you. Just like Jesus, you're being formed in secret for what He will do in public.
Rest Sometimes Includes Community
In Acts 2:46–47, the early church didn’t just gather in the temple. They broke bread in homes, practiced vulnerability, and praised God together. That intimacy created revival. Today, many aren’t used to that kind of trust. But true rest includes authentic community. It’s not just “me time.” It’s being present with others in meaningful connection—away from the scrolling, the chaos, and the noise.
Even Jesus broke bread with those He loved most. He paused for people. He paused for prayer. He paused for purpose.
Record a declaration video in selfie mode. Speak this over yourself:
“I will regulate my nervous system. I will prioritize my time. I will pause all distractions. I will set boundaries. I will enter rest mode. I will worship through the pause.”
Remember—rest always follows obedience. It’s not earned by working hard enough; it’s received through trusting deeply.
Ask yourself – “Am I only sending God text messages or face-timing Him? Or am I really stopping long enough to sit at His feet and receive my rest from Him?”
God doesn't need our hustle—He desires our hearts. And sometimes, the loudest expression of faith is the silent surrender of sacred rest. Trust God with your minutes because your personal battery life depends on it.
Remembering that only when you actually hit airplane mode can your purpose truly take flight!
About the Author
Jeannie Ortega Law is a chart-topping singer, evangelist, media personality and author from New York City. She can be reached on social media: @JeannieOrtega or emailed at Info@JeannieO.com
At V1 Church we believe in teaching Bible-based relationship principles so that you can your family can be strengthened. Connect with us using one of the links below – we’d love to see you and help you walk through the process of reconciliation.