Day 24: Take Some Time to Rest

• Transcript

  We’ve started practicing Sabbath in our household.
  I know we’re not required to do it — but we choose to.

  We do it to reconnect with God and with each other.
  We disconnect from tech. We stock up on our favourite Sabbath snacks.
  It’s become a beautiful reason to stop, breathe, and let our souls exhale.

  But here’s the thing: rest doesn’t happen by accident.
  You won’t stop unless you schedule it — because the pings won’t stop, your mind won’t stop, and life will keep racing on.

  Even Jesus rested. He often slipped away in the early mornings to pray.
  He napped in the back of a boat.
  He got a lot done — but He never seemed rushed or frantic.

  Rest is a gift. A blessing.
  Why not schedule some in?

Let’s Talk

In a world that never shuts up, rest feels foreign.
It’s countercultural to stop. To log off. To say, “That’s enough for today.”
But your body, your mind, and your spirit were not designed to run 24/7.

I realise Sabbath is not something we are required to do, but I think its something we may choose to do. Sabbath isn’t just about what you don’t do — it’s about what you make space for. It is more about what you are withdrawing to, than what you are retreating from. When you sabbath, you get to practice stillness, delight, worship, play and reconnection.

Whether it’s a full day, half a morning, or just two sacred hours of no agenda — the point is to pause on purpose.
Rest is not laziness. Rest is resistance.

And when you rest, you’re not just recharging your energy.
You’re making a theological statement:
“I’m not God. The world doesn’t fall apart when I stop.”

Scripture

Mark 2:27 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’”

Sabbath isn’t meant to weigh you down — it’s meant to lift you up.
God built it for you. To restore you. To remind you that your worth doesn’t come from what you do.

Exodus 20:8 (NIV)
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”

This isn’t just a command — it’s an invitation to delight. It’s a call to remember what’s good. and to enjoy God’s presence without pressure.

Mental Health Moment

Chronic busyness is one of the most socially accepted forms of self-neglect.
When we never rest, our nervous systems never reset.
Anxiety builds. Sleep quality drops. Focus scatters. Emotional resilience thins out.

But here’s what’s remarkable: science now affirms what God has said all along — that regular rest is essential for human flourishing.

Research shows that intentional rest:

• Reduces cortisol (your body’s stress hormone)

• Improves memory and mental clarity

• Strengthens your immune system

• Supports better emotional regulation

• Decreases the risk of depression and burnout

Sabbath isn’t just spiritual — it’s deeply biological.
God hardwired your body to match the rhythm He modelled in creation: work… and then rest.
Not rest as reward, but rest as rhythm. Rest as wisdom. Rest as worship.

You don’t have to earn it. You just have to receive it.

Practice for Today

Try scheduling a mini-Sabbath this week.

Pick a window of time where you won’t produce anything.
No emails. No hustle. No “just catching up” on housework.

Instead, eat slowly. Laugh loudly. Pray gently. Nap without guilt.
You might be surprised at how holy rest can be.

A Prayer for the Weary

Lord,
You worked — and then You rested.
You called rest good — not lazy, not weak, but holy.

Help me break the addiction to busyness.
Show me that I don’t have to earn rest —
I just have to receive it.

Give my soul permission to breathe again.
Amen.

Reflection Prompt

What’s one small way you can reclaim rest this week?
What distractions or beliefs get in the way — and how can you gently challenge them?