God's Good Gift: Sabbath Rest

 As a dad of four little boys, parenting has been both an eye-opening and humbling lens through which I see my relationship with the Lord. On the bright side, I’ve caught gospel-glimpses of His deep, unwavering love for His children. But in moments when I’m walking in the flesh, I’ve also been painfully aware of how far I fall short of reflecting the Father’s patience. My boys have shown me fresh pictures of childlike faith and dependence, while also revealing the depths of rebellion. Lately, one of the more unexpected ways I’ve seen my own foolishness reflected is in their daily resistance to nap time. As a recent church planter and lifelong busybody, the idea of rejecting a free chance to rest is baffling. And yet, when I consider what Scripture says about Sabbath, I realize I do the same thing all the time.

My aim in writing this article isn’t to spark theological debate—many faithful, godly believers hold differing views on Sabbatarianism. I’m not attempting to answer every biblical question about the Sabbath. Instead, I simply hope to offer a few reflections—and more importantly, some practical applications—for how we can embrace and enjoy the gift of rest that the Lord has graciously given us.

What is Sabbath?

A Daily Reality

The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word shabbat, meaning “to cease,” “to stop,” or simply, “to rest.” While most people associate Sabbath with a specific day of the week, it’s crucial to recognize that under the New Covenant, Jesus fulfilled the law and redirected us toward the heart behind obedience. In one sense, the New Covenant frees us from strict legal observance. But paradoxically, Christ doesn’t lower the bar—He raises it. He doesn’t just call us to external compliance, but to a deeper, inner rest rooted in Himself.

Rather than merely viewing Sabbath as a calendar event, we’re invited to see how Jesus is our Sabbath. He offers the true rest our striving hearts crave. Hebrews 10:12–14 reminds us that His once-for-all sacrifice liberates us from the endless urge to cleanse our own conscience. Hebrews 4 and Colossians 2:16–17 drive the point home: Christ is our Sabbath rest. That’s why He says in Matthew 11:28–30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...” We are invited into His perfect obedience—something we could never accomplish on our own—and to rest in the power of His final words from the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30).

That being said, how should we approach the idea of Sabbath as a day? If Christ is our rest, what role does a set-apart day still play in our weekly rhythms?

A Weekly Rhythm

While the New Testament clearly calls us into a spirit of rest, it's also clear that our origins and history point us toward a system of rest. In Genesis 2:1–3, we see the God of the universe rest on the seventh day of creation, blessing it and making it holy. From the very beginning, the rhythm of a seven-day week was woven into creation: six days of work, followed by one day of rest.

Though I don’t believe we’re bound to a strict observance of the Sabbath law under the New Covenant, I do believe that setting aside a regular 24-hour window each week is, at the very least, a wise and life-giving practice. Interestingly, in Exodus 20:8–11, the fourth commandment is grounded in that same Genesis rhythm. God essentially says, “Rest—because I did.” This shows us that Sabbath is not just about getting a break; it’s about growing in godliness. God didn’t rest because He was tired, but to delight in His creation and to set a pattern for our flourishing. Sabbath, then, is not just practical — it’s deeply formational.

This begs the question: what does it actually look like to Sabbath? Most of us tend to fall into one of two ditches—either we never stop working and resist rest altogether, or we confuse laziness for true rest. Neither of these reflects what the Lord intends. Instead, we’re invited to examine our default tendencies and respond faithfully to His call to embrace Sabbath in both spirit and practice.

How to Sabbath?

I’ve heard many helpful categories used to describe what Sabbath should look like. While I don’t think they are necessarily wrong, I’ve often wrestled with the commonly used terms “rest” and “refresh.” The reason is simple: we’re prone to deceive ourselves about what actually brings true rest and refreshment. Without a clear understanding of these categories, we can easily fill a day with relaxation and still miss the heart of Sabbath—a day set apart for pursuing God. For that reason, I want to offer a clearer framework: depend and delight.

In Mark 2:27–28, Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” This reminds us that Jesus still claims lordship over our Sabbath practice—He is not dismissing it. But He reframes it as a gift, not a burden. Sabbath is a grace, not a legalistic requirement. It’s meant to be freeing, not restricting.

Depend on God

To honor the root meaning of Sabbath—to cease, stop, and rest—we must actually do just that. As God says in Psalm 46:10, “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” Sabbath calls us to cease our striving, often fueled by the relentless pull of work and worry. It invites us to lay down our desire to prove ourselves or perform, and instead, to rest in the finished work of Christ.

Most importantly, Sabbath is a declaration of trust. It’s an active way of saying: God can be God without my help. As Ray Ortlund beautifully puts it: “If God isn’t worried, we can relax. If God isn’t in a hurry, we can be patient. If God is in control, we don’t need to be. If God stays awake, we can go to sleep. Rest well, friends.”

Delight in God

While Sabbath certainly calls attention to what we stop doing, it’s equally important to consider what we must do. Without over-explaining Matthew 11:28-30, it’s worth noting the command Jesus gives before offering rest: “Come to me.” This means we cannot experience true Sabbath rest without delighting in God. We are called to draw near to Him, seeking intimacy through practices like Scripture reading, prayer, and worship with His people.

Moreover, God, as our Father, provides every good and perfect gift, and part of Sabbath is simply delighting in His creation. Interestingly, Deuteronomy 5:12 commands Israel to “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.” Did you know that the word “holiday” comes from the root words “holy” and “day”? Just as we observe holidays by giving them special attention and joy, consider your weekly Sabbath as an opportunity to curate your best day of the week — think of it like Christmas (without the stress or forced socializing). Embrace the blessing of family, enjoy meaningful friendships or moments of solitude, step outside to appreciate God’s creation, read a good book, listen to music, or marvel at works of art. Savor your favorite meal. Or, as a friend of mine often says, “Jesus took naps. Be like Jesus.”

May the Lord of the Sabbath richly bless you as you embrace the grace-gift of rest, both daily and weekly. I pray that the Spirit of God would empower you to trust in Him and treasure Him above all else, for your good and His glory.