Rest Is Not Lazy—It’s Holy
Summer is almost here. The days are longer, the sun is shining, and suddenly… we have even more things to do. Travel plans, backyard parties, catch-up projects, side hustles, it’s easy to fill every minute.
Summer has a way of whispering, “Do more. Be more. Fit it all in.”
But the same God who gave us these bright, beautiful days also gave us something else: boundaries.
From the very beginning, God didn’t just create work—He created rest. A sacred rhythm of doing and then being. Of creating and then ceasing.
“On the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so, on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”
—Genesis 2:2 (NIV)
Sabbath isn’t just about taking a break. It’s about trusting God enough to stop.
It’s a spiritual discipline that says:
- “God, I believe you can sustain what I step away from.”
- “My worth is not in my work.”
- “I honor You by honoring my need to restore.”
In a culture that glorifies hustle, rest is resistance.
In a summer that invites overstimulation, rest is realignment.
Just as the earth turns toward the sun for longer stretches during this season, let’s take this season to turn our hearts toward the Son—soaking in light, warmth, and peace without the pressure to perform.
A few years ago, I found myself saying yes to every opportunity summer threw at me—speaking gigs, ministry events, social invitations. I told myself, “This is the harvest season. Don’t slow down now.”
But one Saturday, I had nothing on my calendar. I grabbed a journal, a blanket, and my Bible and drove to a nearby beach. I didn’t plan a thing. I didn’t scroll or post a thing. I just sat.
And something sacred happened:
I heard myself again.
I heard God again.
I remembered that I was loved, not just useful.
That day reminded me: rest isn’t a reward for finishing your to-do list. It’s a reflection of your trust in God’s timing, not your own.
Presiding Action: Design Your Summer Sabbath
This week, I invite you to reclaim rest as an act of stewardship. Try this:
- Pick one day or half-day to unplug—from work, from social media, from striving.
- Do something that delights your soul:
A walk in nature, a nap in the sun, worship music, journaling, or simply doing nothing without guilt. - Reflect with God:
Ask, “Lord, what do You want to restore in me?”
Remember, rest isn’t passive. It’s presiding over your time with wisdom and worship.