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Should We Rest on Sundays? Thoughts on a Modern Day Sabbath

Is a Sabbath Rest relevant to today? How can I possibly rest when I can barely fit everything into 7 days?! If you have ever asked yourself these questions, you are not alone. Here we explore God’s design for the Sabbath as well as some cautions against legalism.

For many of us, the concept of resting on Sunday can create an internal struggle. We wonder, “Is it relevant to us today?” We want to obey His word, yet we live in a society that does not value the concept of true rest. We are always accessible whether it be via email, text messaging or cell phones. We can shop at virtually any store any day of the week and in some cases, any hour of the day. Even our vacations are not restful. We never get to be “off duty.” Nevertheless, God rested. He didn’t need to, but He did. There seems to be no better reason than to set an example for His people. God’s ways are always best. Once we align our will with His, we will be blessed because of it. Let’s look a little deeper into this concept of resting on Sunday.

You may say, “I just can’t rest on Sunday. There are not enough days in the week as it is; I can’t give up a whole day.” However, if you feel convicted to do so and enter into a “Sabbath rest” with an attitude of appreciation for what God has provided you, you will find that He will provide you with all the time you need to complete all that He would have you do. As in the story of the feeding of the 5,000, God can multiply your time and energy in ways that you couldn’t imagine.

If you do adopt this principle of rest, you may find yourself slipping into legalism, creating a list of “off limits” activities on Sunday. Be careful. You do not want to recreate a system that Jesus condemned – a system created by the Pharisees that consisted of following a set of extensive rules but lead to no internal change. Instead of making a list of don’ts, create a list of do’s. Make time for family, fellowship and worship. Make time for sitting still and reflecting on your week – think of the ways God revealed Himself to you. Make time to plan for your week ahead. Play a game with your kids. Remember, it doesn’t even have to be Sunday. You may have a job that requires that you go to work on Sunday. Simply pick another day to give to God and to give back to yourself. He designed you with this in mind.

Resting doesn’t have to be sitting in a chair reading your Bible all day. God has created you to live in communion with others in a beautiful world- so on your day of rest, get out and enjoy both!

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment from a qualified mental health professional. Cornerstones for Parents is not liable for any advice, tips, techniques, and recommendations the reader chooses to implement.

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About Laura

Laura Kuehn, LCSW

Laura is a licensed clinical social worker who offers individual therapy to women and moms in Connecticut. She is the author of More Than a Conqueror, A Christian Kid's Guide to Winning the War on Worry. Cornerstones for Parents is the place she combines some of the things she is most passionate about: God's word, parenting and mental health.

1 Comment

  • Thanks for your perspective. I like to think of the Sabbath as “rest-up”! Get your mind “up” to really celebrate who God is, the greatness of his love and call on our lives to be allowed to serve. Makes Sunday a very “up” day!
    Kids can get the big picture of “up”. Everyone like a party! Why not celebrate this too?

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