Aylee
I set aside Sundays as a day of Sabbath, where I take time to rest and step away from my schoolwork. As a busy college student, it’s tempting to work every day of the week since there’s always something that needs to be done. However, prioritizing rest has actually made me more motivated, productive, and happier. In the past, I would pull all-nighters and spend 12-hours working on projects. After practicing and prioritizing rest, I know made it a boundary to never cross that line where work becomes my idol. I’ve realized that a balanced approach leads to a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle, especially as a creative.
While it’s important to value the work we create, we must also recognize our limits as human beings. God designed us to rest, and He models this in the Bible to show us that rest is not only necessary but good!
Beyond Sundays, I practice Sabbath throughout the week by inviting the Lord into my work. Before starting a project, I pray for His blessing and to provide the wisdom and creativity to use the gifts He has given me to create with excellence.
Ryder
I find that in taking a sabbath I am so much more rested during the week. I used to always have the excuse that I was too busy to take a sabbath, but someone said it to try prioritizing it over all the things in life and just possibly you might become more productive at all the other things in the other 6 days. I have absolutely found that to be the case. Same thing with reading your Bible. If you prioritize reading over sleep, you just might feel more rested with less sleep bc you are spiritually healthy!
Chelsea
Every Wednesday, my significant other and I take a sabbath together. It’s a new thing we started, and we picked Wednesday because I don’t have classes that day, and he’s off work. Back in middle and high school, we used to go to youth group on Wednesdays, which helped us reset and refocus on God. But as life got busier, making it to a young adults group became harder. We realized we needed to change that, so we made it a priority to set aside time in the middle of the week to reconnect with God.
Honestly, we didn’t realize how much we missed it (or how much we needed it) until we started doing it. Now, it’s something we look forward to every week. I usually start my day by walking my dog, doing my personal devotion, and catching up with a friend over coffee. In the evening, my significant other and I go out for dinner and take time to thank God for each other and our families. We end the night with our Bible study, talking through what we learned from the passage.
Having this set time in the middle of the week helps keep our focus on what really matters growing in faith, strengthening our relationships, and making sure God stays at the center of it all.
Pastor Braelynn
Sabbath rest is about trust. It’s about trusting that God is ACTUALLY in control. It reminds me that I am not God. Nor am I anyone’s salvation. Jesus did the ultimate work so I don’t have to. I am simply a partner in God’s work, but he has the final say. In ministry is often easy to make ministry your identity. Sabbath rest reminds me that I am NOT my work. Removing work, allows for me to silence the distraction of work and reflect on the potential brokenness that lies underneath the glitz and glamor of ministry.
Sabbath is choosing one day a week to to exist simply as Braelynn, not Pastor Braelynn. It is important to me to have one day a week where I am not “needed.” I often like to think I am more important than I actually am, so sabbath helps to remind me that I am God’s child and that is enough. I generally take Fridays to sabbath. These days look like sleeping in ,exercising, finding a good coffee shop, spending time with someone who loves me , cares for me, and most importantly doesn’t need me. I usually top the day off with a nice meal somewhere I really enjoy. I also try to practice Sabbath in pockets of the day where I unplug and rest with the Lord. Resting with the Lord has produced reduced stressed and a deeper capacity to do the Lord’s work work in a way that is deep and meaningful.
I would say to someone who says they are too busy to “sabbath” that they likely have made work their identity and idol. I would tell them to search within and ask the Lord to show them the specific needs the Lord is asking you to meet. You may potentially have things on your plate that are simply serving your ego, not the King. The king will not require work that doesn’t put his REST first.
To someone who wants to start practicing but doesn’t know how, I would say start with an hour or two weekly. A time to unplug from work or homework and allow the Lord to meet you. Once you get a taste of real rest and presence with the Lord is will be less of a chore and more of a delight. Start small and let your desire for rest and presence with the Lord grow.
Audrey
As a student-athlete with two part-time jobs, I’ve learned the hard way that neglecting true rest in Christ leads to burnout— in both my work and in my sport. I travel a lot for competitions, and I sometimes have to compete or travel on Sundays, making it hard to attend church or take a full day off, especially when I need to catch up on homework. After going through a rough season of not prioritizing God-given rest, I’ve come to realize how much more refreshed and at peace I feel when I intentionally take a sabbath. Since then, I’ve made it a priority to watch my church service later in the week, and leading up to competition weeks, I’ve become more diligent in avoiding procrastination and working ahead. This lets me take a full day of rest when I come back.
If someone feels too busy to practice the sabbath, I would encourage them to remember that it doesn’t have to just be on a Sunday. Make it a priority somewhere in your week, even if it means doing extra work on a different day. God designed us to need rest, so building small habits of honoring the sabbath is a great start.
Braelyn
There is no such thing as being “too busy” to practice Sabbath. There is simply prioritizing your time differently. If you truly want to dedicate your time to something, you will MAKE time for it. If it’s valuable to you, it can be done. It all just depends on what your priorities are. I used to greatly struggle with this portion of Sabbath as I felt as though I never had enough time to do everything. Saying “yes” to something requires you to say “no” to something else. For example, I practice sabbath for the entirety of Sunday - which I’m saying “yes” to that dedicated time of rest in the Lord. But, that means during the week, I have to say “no” to things that would take up time in me getting everything done that is required of me for the week. I’ve seen on numerous occasions where the Lord has helped me finish tasks quicker than anticipated to help me have that whole day to rest in Him. It’s beyond worth it and has changed my life for the better.
Katelyn
For me, practicing the Sabbath means dedicating my Saturdays to a complete break from work and design-related activities. A true Sabbath Saturday is about regeneration, stepping outside to read my Bible, journaling and reflecting on the past week (noting what went well and what could be improved), organizing my space, or simply spending quality time with friends. In essence, it’s about engaging in activities that help me relax and refocus on God.
Since embracing the Sabbath, my life has transformed. I’ve grown closer to God and learned to appreciate the sacred rest He offers. Observing the Sabbath has brought balance into my life, making me feel less overwhelmed and more organized. The time I spend reflecting and journaling slows my mind, allowing me to recognize and be grateful for the goodness God has shown me—details I might otherwise miss during a hectic week.
In our fast-paced culture,often defined by the “work hard, play hard” mentality, many people in America neglect rest. The Bible teaches the importance of taking time away from constant work, which might explain why so many feel drained and lose their sense of self beyond their jobs.
Personally, I’ve committed to specific habits, such as disconnecting from graphic design and school-related tasks and holding myself accountable for true rest. Journaling has also been a powerful tool, making the Sabbath feel authentic and transformative.
If you’re interested in practicing the Sabbath, I suggest starting small. First, learn what the Sabbath truly means, understanding that God instituted it because He recognizes our need for rest is key to appreciating its value. Then, choose activities on your Sabbath that leave you feeling refreshed and spiritually connected, whether that’s spending time with friends, reading your Bible, enjoying a hike, or engaging in any non-work-related pursuit that brings you closer to the Lord
