I hate being hurried but struggle to be still. “The Sabbath feels more like a day of stress than a day of rest,” I’ve said. “How do you cease from work, as God says in His Word, when you’re a woman, especially when you have young children? Where is the rest in the rush to ready your little ones to get to church, then home to feed the family, clean up, and barely make it back in time for evening service?”
Though my children are now grown, I’ve continued to wrestle with this. Mostly, when I’ve tried to nap for a few minutes, my frenzied mind won’t settle. The tasks on my list tumble in my head like clothes in a dryer, around and around, punctuated by the thud of condemnation for the things left undone, and sleep evades. “Either is fine: sleep or getting things done on Sunday,” I’ve said. “But it’s frustrating accomplishing nothing.”
The Hebrew word for Sabbath is Shabbat and its root is Shavat[1] which literally means to cease. God commands us to set the seventh day of the week (the Sabbath) aside as a holy day in which we cease work, gather with His people and honor and worship Him, and be refreshed. But it has seemed more like work, and I’ve wrestled with the guilt of feeling this way. It’s obvious to me I need to go to church on Sunday, to honor God in this way; I want to. I mused, perhaps I was missing something, and needed to rethink the Sabbath. Or better yet, let God’s Word and the Holy Spirit reshape my thinking and heart.
I considered my Christian brothers and sisters in nations hostile to the gospel andforced to meet in secret due to persecution. Some rip Bibles into small sections to share and pass them around among themselves. What a privilege to openly and without opposition gather with other believers weekly. Forgive my ungrateful attitude, Lord.
The creation account states, “By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done,” (Genesis 2:2 NASB).
When God gave the Sabbath as one of the ten commandments to the Israelites recorded in Exodus chapter 20, He referenced the pattern He’d already laid at creation—before sin entered the world.
“You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and the foreigners living among you to be refreshed. (Exodus 23:12 NLT)
God’s concern for the wellbeing of all people and even the animals shown in this scripture moves me. This protection the Sabbath offers us even today is a stark contrast to the relentless demands of the hard taskmasters of Egypt from whom God delivered the Israelites. But sometimes we’re our own worst enemies, driving ourselves and depriving ourselves of what God has provided for us.
When we are unable to rest, we implicitly can be saying that God cannot do his work without our help.—Soul Rest: 7 Days to Renewal, by Curtis Zachery, devotional on the YouVersion Bible App.
“Lord, how do I cease from work? Where is this rest, this refreshing, you speak of?”
Tweet
Jesus whispered this reminder to my heart: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NKJV)
It helps us enjoy the Sabbath when we prepare ahead of time, as shown in Scripture. Exodus chapter 16 records God’s instructions to the Israelites to gather two days’ worth of manna on the 6th day, for on the 7th day they were to cease work.
“This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord.’” (Exodus 16:23) This was before the ten commandments and the first time the seventh day was called the Sabbath.
God didn’t establish the Sabbath as a legalistic burden.
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!’” (Mark 2:27-28 NLT).
Sometimes I battle with a performance and works mentality, hence my hashtag at the onset of my writing journey, #TurningMarthaIntoMary. While God requires obedience, He prefers our presence over performance.
“Our level of ability to rest is indicative of our level of trust in God. Faith and trust is letting go,” Dr. Sandra-Dalton Smith states in her book, Sacred Rest.
My wrong expectations of the Sabbath set me up for needless disappointment. Though they are necessary, we must not confuse sleep and recreation as the sole components or the paramount reason for the rest God ordained. Practicing the Sabbath is not so much about doing or not doing, but being fully focused on being present in God’s presence, enjoying and honoring Him without pressure to accomplish otherwise or be elsewhere.
What if I viewed the Sabbath as a kind command to a celebration rather than mere duty? It’s in the ceasing from the ordinary to focus on Jesus that we find rest in Him.
Tweet
I searched further and pondered Exodus 31:17, where God speaks regarding the Sabbath:
“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:17 NASB)
God saying He was refreshed shows there’s more to this scripture than Him setting an example for us to take a day off work and go to church.
“Lord, what do you mean by refreshed?”
God doesn’t get tired or worn down, so this wouldn’t be like us taking a nap. Or is this part of God’s nature, how He works—He rests and is refreshed?
I searched the scriptures and spoke to some wise ministers. The word refreshed (naphesh[2] in Hebrew)[3] refers to the soul, life, the entire essence of a being (physical, emotional, spiritual). The root word means to take a breath, to breathe, refresh (verb: naphash[4]).
“Lord, is the Sabbath like a selah, that pause between places in a musical piece?”
Tweet
We pause to enjoy our Creator, to reflect on and honor God and be with Him and consider our path. The Sabbath marks the end of the week and beginning of another, a type of grace, a re-start.
Messianic rabbi Henry Morse pointed me to Isaiah 58:13 when I reached out to him with questions about the Sabbath:
“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord.” (Isaiah 58:13-14 NIV)
The gifts and calls God gives us remain, but work best within our design, the order God ordained, which includes a Sabbath. To rest, cease our ordinary work so we can take a breath, be refreshed (mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual).
The gotta-dos are never done. We’re beneficiaries of His blessing when we obey and trust our Creator, who knows how we run best.
Tweet
We hinder our ability to thrive when we fail to prioritize our relationship with God (the reason He created us) and neglect our spiritual health.
“Lord, is Sabbath like taking a deep breath?”
God paused to enjoy His creation—as if He took a deep breath and observed all He’d created—followed by a contented exhale.
Tweet
God commands us to cease work on the Sabbath to breathe in His life-giving presence and Word, taking in what was and is, acknowledging Him for who He is, Lord, Savior, our everything. We exhale, releasing ourselves to His care, and exhale a contented breath of gratitude for all He’s given and allows us to do.
God is worthy of honor. The Sabbath is not so much about another thing to strive for, a list of must-dos or don’t dos, but a grace filled gift from our loving Heavenly Father. He calls us aside to more than physical rest, but to rest with and in Him, to delight in Him.
[1] https://thewordinhebrew.com/blogs/blog-posts/sabbath-in-hebrew-shabbat
[2] https://biblehub.com/lexicon/exodus/31-17.htm
[3] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5315.htm
[4] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5314.htm
SCAVENGER HUNT IN HONOR OF FATHER’S DAY!
By one of the most gifted authors and beautiful souls I’ve been blessed to know.
NEW RELEASE! Gideon’s Book https://www.amazon.com/Gideons-Book-Maureen-Miller/dp/1646459040/ref=sr_1_1 by multi-award winning author Maureen Miller.
Three souls searching for purpose and healing. From the sun-soaked beaches of Myrtle Beach to the quiet streets of Eden, North Carolina, Gideon’s Book traverses both time and place, exploring the transformative power of faith and self-discovery. A time-slip novel, Gideon’s Book invites readers to pull up a chair and have healthy, heartfelt conversations about tough issues. Mostly, it points to God’s redemptive character in a broken, imperfect world.
READ MY ARTICLES TO BLESS MOMS HERE.
Join me on the journey.
CLICK HERE to Subscribe to the Tattoo It on Your Heart Newsletter
to receive my FREE downloadable gospel tract (pictured here), my latest posts, and occasional special offers.
Blessed to be headed to Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, held May 26-30 this year. Located in Black Mountain, NC, hosted at Ridgecrest Conference Center nestled in the majestic rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, BRMCWC is a spiritual oasis for the writer’s soul. BRMCWC provides top-notch instruction featuring an array of classes taught by industry pros eager to equip, direct, and refresh beginner to veteran writers and speakers. Their mission statement is, “to inspire writers to connect with God, other writers, and industry professionals as they embrace their calling with excellence.” (FREE downloadable updated Tips Resources and Fail-proof Goals for BRMCWC here.) Catch the 2025 Selah Awards ceremony live conversation on Thursday May 29, at 7 p.m. Eastern HERE.
$50 off FULL registration for the 2025
Write to Publish Conference
with coupon code:
Colby2025
Held on the campus of the historic Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, Write to Publish Conference has guided writers to find clarity for their calling and their path to publication since 1971.
Offerings include inspiring keynotes, high-caliber education via more than 30 workshops and continuing classes from seasoned industry pros, and one-on-one meetings with agents, editors, and publishers. Genre groups, morning devotions, time to write and reflect and connect with a supportive community of fellow writers add to the opportunities for robust education, encouragement, and empowerment.
Though Wheaton College isn't affiliated with the WTP conference, attendees are welcome to wander the walkways surrounded by lush landscape and beautiful buildings and immerse themselves in the rich history that abounds on campus. The Wade Center features works and artifacts from J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, and George MacDonald. Tolkein’s desk, C. S. Lewis’ family wardrobe featured in his Chronicles of Narnia books, original hand-drawn maps, writings, and more are among the collected treasures from the featured authors.
Wheaton's alumni include Billy Graham, Jim Elliot, and Todd Beamer. Blanchard Hall was a stop on the Underground Railroad and houses history of this including a permanent exhibit showcasing the history of African American worship. Set aside some time to visit the Billy Graham Museum, sure to enlighten and recharge your soul.
$50 off FULL registration
for the 2025 Write to Publish Conference with coupon code:
Colby2025
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
We celebrate
nurses, teachers, first responders,
and Military Appreciation Month in May.
I've been honored to interview several of these heroes.
Excerpts from and links to my interviews with:
Nurses | Teachers | Law Enforcement | Military
Attention #KidLit authors: Get your manuscripts ready! More info and enter the contest at: ACFWKidLit.com
PRIOR POSTS
- A Time to Disobey
“God, please don’t take Grandma from me yet,” I frequently prayed. Though I’d moved to the USA and Grandma remained in Jamaica, the world felt a little less scary and lonely because she was in it. “But when you take her home, … Continue reading “A Time to Disobey” - Grit & Grace: Michael Duncan ~ Author, Pastor, Master of the One-Line Sermon Returns
Feast on a banquet of truth from one who greets life’s challenges with grit & grace. Michael Duncan: author, pastor, master of the one-line sermon returns as my guest interviewee. Undeterred by threats, he shares wit, wisdom, and some wild stories including … Continue reading “Grit & Grace: Michael Duncan ~ Author, Pastor, Master of the One-Line Sermon Returns” - The Futile Pursuit of Worry
Jesus told us not to worry because he knew we would and thus need this counsel. God gave us His Word not for us to use it to bludgeon ourselves or each other, but to instruct, encourage, correct, redirect our missteps, and … Continue reading “The Futile Pursuit of Worry”
Join me on the journey.
CLICK HERE to Subscribe to the Tattoo It on Your Heart Newsletter
to receive my FREE downloadable gospel tract (pictured here), my latest posts, and occasional special offers.
For the full #HealthyFaithChat schedule on X (Twitter) and a list of upcoming topics please visit our website: HealthyFaithChat.com
In need of prayer? The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s 24 hour Prayer Line is there for you: (888) 388-2683
Sometimes we need wise counsel.
Help is available from Focus on the Family
1-800-A-Family/ (1-800) 232-6459
Focus on the Family's Parenting Page hosts resources
to encourage and equip families HERE.
Sign up for their FREE weekly Age & Stage Parenting emails.
© 2025 Rachael M Colby | Tattoo It On your Heart
Share this:
Tattoo It On Your Heart 
As always, this post is full of insight and careful thinking!
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words, Maria. Praise God; He helps me. God bless you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
God bless you!!
LikeLike
So true, Rachael. Sometimes I feel like Sundays aren’t a day off. We need to obey God and be refreshed , rested and blessed. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are most welcome. Thank you for reading. Yes, time spent with God and resting as He prescribes deepens our relationship with Him, strengthens us spiritually, and empowers us to do the work He calls us to.
LikeLike