Rooted and Refreshed
Sacred Rhythm of Rest
Living in a broken world is hard- leading in a broken world is exhausting. As women, we carry so much. We juggle responsibilities, care deeply for others, and often feel like it's up to us to hold everything together. If we're honest, sometimes we step into roles that only God was meant to fill.
Don't believe me? How often do you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders?
The good news? You don't have to lead from burnout. You were never meant to.
A holy pause in a culture filled with productivity
From the beginning, woven into the fabric of creation, God established a rhythm of work and rest. Not because He needed it, but because we would. In Exodus 20:8-11, the Sabbath is not merely suggested; it is commanded. A holy pause in the culture of productivity.
If we're honest, rest is so hard. Like so hard.
The world tells us to hustle: keep producing, keep performing, keep proving yourself. We can wear our busy like a badge of honor. And sometimes, we can be tempted to measure our worth by output instead of obedience.
Sabbath is countercultural. It's a bold declaration that God is in control- and we are not. It's a regular rhythm of surrender that reminds us- we are not machines. We are deeply loved children. When we resist hustle with holy rest, we're not just protecting our physical energy- we're nurturing our souls. We're aligning our lives with a God who doesn't need our striving, just our trust.
What Can Sabbath look like?
Physical Activity
For me, Sabbath always includes some aspect of physical activity. I love a long walk with Boone to a coffee shop or a scenic hike to Monticello.
Boundaries
I love my Sabbath boundaries. No phone, no emails, no work. Yes to walks, extra time in Scripture, reading off my TBR list or enjoying a slower pace. Say "no" so you can say "yes".
Delighting In Joy
The Lord didn't create the Sabbath to make us miserable- he did it to restore our souls and remind us of our identity as His children. Our Father is creative, and so we can be too. My most recent Sabbath addition that fuels my creativity- crossword puzzles.
The key takeaway- Sabbath isn't a commandment that is about rigid rules- it's about reinforcing your life around God's presence and pace. You were not made to run on empty. Rest is a reward, and it is part of your divine design.
My Prayer for you...
Dear friend, my prayer for you is that in the midst of all you carry, you would remember that you are deeply loved by God, not for what you do, but for who you are. I pray you find space today to breathe, to rest, and to reconnect with the One who restores your soul. May you walk in the unforced rhythms of His grace. May your leadership flow from a well-tended soul, and may you always lead from a place of being led by Him. But mostly friend, I pray that you know you are worthy, you are loved, and you are commissioned in this moment with purpose.
Reflection Questions:
So often we consume things: social media posts, books, podcasts with the intention of change. My hope is that these weekly reflection questions would give you the opportunity to journal or pray over what we're digging into for the week for lasting change.
How do I currently view rest? What prevents me from embracing Sabbath? How might God be inviting me into deeper rest?