Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
—Exodus 20:8-11

Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.’
—Leviticus 25:2-4

The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.
—2 Chronicles 36:21

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Sabbeth
By Jennifer Kane

I lay it down,
all my striving,
all my lists,
all my doing.

And let me be with Him.

Breathe in stillness,
breathe out praise.

The world will keep turning—
God holds it, and lets me be.

I sit in His presence,
taste His peace,
let my soul
remember its Maker.

Here,
I am home.

~~~~~

Scriptures: Exodus 20:8-11, Leviticus 25:2-4, 2 Chronicles 36:21

In our culture of constant production and endless deadlines, the idea of rest often feels like laziness. But God’s Word paints a very different picture. The Sabbath is not an optional pause—it is a divine command, a rhythm built into creation itself. God Himself worked six days and rested on the seventh—not because He was tired, but because He was showing us a pattern for living in His design.

Even the land was commanded to rest. God knew that just as soil becomes depleted without pause, so too do our minds, bodies, and creative spirits. Ignoring this principle leads to exhaustion, frustration, and—what many creatives know too well—burnout.

Creative burnout happens when we continually pour out without allowing ourselves time to be refilled. It can strip the joy from our work, distort our perspective, and leave us wondering why we ever started in the first place. God doesn’t want us to live in that cycle. Instead, He invites us to trust Him enough to stop. To set boundaries. To believe that the world—and our work—will still stand if we step back for a day.

I have been posting devotionals on my blog every single day—seven days a week—because I love encouraging others and sharing God’s truth. But I have also felt the creeping edge of burnout trying to steal my joy.

So, I am making a change: from now on, I will post six days a week instead of seven. I will take one day to rest, pray, and be still before the Lord. This is not just a choice—it is an act of obedience and trust. I believe that in honoring God’s rhythm, my creativity will not shrink but flourish.

Consider your own rhythms. Are you working without rest? Are you creating without space for renewal? God designed you for both work and rest. Prayerfully ask Him how you can incorporate Sabbath—whether it’s a day, an hour, or even a season of pause—into your life.

Remember: rest is not wasted time. In God’s economy, it is the soil in which fresh inspiration grows.

~~~~~

Lord, thank You for designing life with a rhythm of work and rest. Forgive me for the times I have ignored Your invitation to pause. Help me to trust that You will sustain me even when I stop. May my rest be an act of worship, and may my creativity flow from a heart that is refreshed by You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

July 29 2025