The Sacred Power of the Sabbath: Why Rest is Not Lazy—It’s Holy
My sweet pup, Rip, may have gotten your attention and he has zero problem resting when he’s chased squirrels and swam the beach all day!
But, the truth is, I find it hard to rest on the couch like Rip when the Sabbath arrives every week. We live in a culture that glorifies hustle, rewards overwork, and labels rest as lazy, choosing to observe the Sabbath can feel almost rebellious. I’m a doer by nature. I grew up in a home where productivity was king. We didn’t nap, we didn’t slow down—rest was something that felt like needed to be earned, and even then, it was rare. Can you relate?
Lately, I’ve experienced a shift. I’ve really tried to be more intentional about honoring Sunday as a true Sabbath, a reset and grounding before going into the next week. It doesn’t happen every weekend, because it’s Summer – we have travels, it was Father’s Day, 4th of July, etc etc. But I can say, without exaggeration, just taking small steps towards saying “no” more to Sunday commitments has been pretty transformational.
What began as a gentle nudge in my spirit (and my body and mind gettin my attention!) has become somewhat of a lifeline. Sabbath is no longer just a “day off”; it’s a weekly reset—a sacred rhythm that grounds me. When I step away from the constant doing and sink into being, I feel like a new person come Monday—not just physically rested, but emotionally centered and spiritually aligned.
This isn’t just my personal experience; it’s deeply biblical. Sabbath rest was not a suggestion—it was a command. From the beginning of creation, God modeled rest. After six days of forming the heavens and the earth, “God rested on the seventh day from all his work” (Genesis 2:2). If the Creator of the universe took a day to pause, why do we believe we can’t do the same? Many of us have this subconscious thought of “it has to be earned”, or even a guilt.
And although Jesus healed, taught, and moved through life with purpose, He also knew when to withdraw and rest. Luke 5:16 tells us, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” He didn’t just rest physically—He sought spiritual renewal, modeling that rest is not just about doing nothing; it’s about reconnecting, grounding. A crucial part of being faithful. To pause, slow our pace and re-focus our intentions before diving head first into the week ahead.
If You Find Rest Difficult, Start Small:
What does rest mean to you? It doesn’t have to be sitting still. (trust me, being still is hard for me!!) Rest can be a slow walk, reading, prayer, journaling, or time with loved ones.
Limit inputs. Try a no-phone or no-social media window for a few hours. The world will keep spinning, and your soul will thank you.
Prep ahead. A restful Sabbath is easier when meals, laundry, or tasks are handled beforehand. Set yourself up to truly unplug. Even if it’s just for a few hours on Sunday evening. It’s hard to me to not have any to-do’s around the house on Sunday, and that’s ok. As long as I intentionally unplug for at least part or portions of the day, I feel restored.
Give yourself permission. Rest might feel uncomfortable at first—like you’re doing something wrong. You’re not. You’re healing. We were designed for rest.
Make it sacred. Something you look forward to. Make it a whole experience! Light a candle. Play worship music. Reflect on the week with gratitude. Bonus, bring your kids and spouse into it – I believe the sabbath is something you can get your whole family on board with!
Because rest isn’t weak. It’s worship. And you were never meant to run on empty.
How will you choose to rest this week?
Cheering you on!
