How to Embrace Sabbath Without Guilt and Receive Rest as God’s Loving Gift
Can I tell you something that took me a long time to learn? For years, I believed my worth was tied to what I could get done, a mindset that often requires healing from spiritual perfectionism to fully release. Productivity became my security blanket. But here's the thing. No matter how long I stayed busy, the guilt of stopping always hit me hard, especially when trusting God through waiting felt uncomfortable. I would try to rest, but the to-do list kept running through my head. Does this sound familiar?
In our recent podcast, we talked about how to embrace Sabbath. This goes way beyond simply taking a break and invites us into deepening relationship with God through trust and presence. It’s about learning that rest is not a reward you have to earn. It’s a gift from God. And I want to walk this out with you, friend. So pull up a chair. Let’s talk about putting our faith into practice, finding grace in the pause, and finally letting go of guilt around rest.
Why Do We Feel Guilty When We Rest Instead of Hustling?
I remember growing up believing if you stop, you fall behind. Even when I set aside time for Sabbath, I would feel like I had to deserve it. Somewhere along the way, the culture of hustle gets loud. Our calendars are packed. And as women, we often carry the weight for everyone else, too — Christian community for women.
But how to embrace Sabbath when you feel like the work never ends? Maybe you tell yourself rest is for “after everything’s done.” That voice whispers, “Real women don’t stop.” Even when my body was exhausted, my heart raced with the fear of letting someone down or missing something important, highlighting the need for a Christian approach to mental health rooted in grace. I heard it in the podcast, too – that idea that slowing down is almost selfish. But what if stopping is the most faithful thing we can do, an example of obedience that feels uncomfortable but honors God?
How to Embrace Sabbath as a Gift for Your Soul
Let me share what changed everything for me, including spiritual self-care tips for building strength in difficult seasons. I realized rest was never meant to be a bonus for the super-disciplined. God designed Sabbath as a gift, not a medal for perfect people. Embracing Sabbath starts with believing God delights in your rest, which often becomes part of spiritual rebuilding after setbacks and burnout. Not because of what you can produce, but because He loves you.
Here are a few ways I learned how to embrace Sabbath (even when the guilt tries to creep in):
- Set aside time just to be with God, no agenda, creating space for hearing God's voice daily without pressure.
- Let go of the checklist for one day – let God handle what you can’t
- Bring your heavy thoughts and let Him remind you it’s okay to stop
- Remember, Jesus Himself took time away from the crowds to rest and pray, showing us that honoring God with rest is just as sacred as action.
Here’s what Scripture says: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, CSB). That is an invitation, not a command with strings attached. That’s how to embrace Sabbath – by showing up, even with your messy heart, and letting Him fill you again.
Learning from the Bible: It’s Not About Perfection
Let me tell you about some people in the Bible who struggled with this too. I love reading the story of Elijah. He worked himself to exhaustion and fear. God didn’t scold him when he was tired. God sent him food and told him to rest. I think that says a lot about how God sees us.
Then there’s Moses, who tried to do everything himself until a wise voice taught him to delegate. Even Jesus chose solitude. If God in the flesh stopped to pray and rest, who am I to try doing it all on my own?
And can we talk about the Israelites? After being freed from slavery, they didn’t know how to embrace Sabbath. But God invited them to trust Him – to rest even when it felt dangerous. God’s people had to relearn what it meant to be cared for, not just productive.
How to Rewire Your Thoughts and Release Guilt
This is where it gets practical. The guilt? It won’t vanish overnight. But every time I remind myself of the truth, it gets lighter. You see, busyness is not a sin. Having a full calendar doesn’t make you less faithful. But holding onto guilt when God’s offering you rest? That keeps you tense, exhausted, and striving.
Here are a few things that helped me reframe how to embrace Sabbath:
- First, talk to God honestly about what makes you anxious when you stop
- Ask Him to show you any areas where you still feel you have to “earn” His love
- Notice the signs when your energy is crashing – that’s a permission slip to pause, not push harder
- If you have a list, write down just one thing you’ll do to rest this week, and circle it as a gift to yourself
- Share with a friend or your small group – let someone hold you accountable in grace, not guilt
And if you’re still struggling, remember – healing from hustle takes time. Rest as often as you need to. Even if that means sitting quietly in your car or in your closet for five minutes. Practice how to embrace Sabbath in small, daily ways. Celebrate every step.
How to Embrace Sabbath in a Busy Season
I can hear you now – "That all sounds good, Jessica, but what if I literally can’t slow down?" Girl, I get it. Our lives come in seasons. Sometimes you’re running kids everywhere or working extra shifts or caring for a sick family member. But let’s ask ourselves, what is the Sabbath really about?
It’s less about a perfect Sunday and more about trusting God to keep working while you step back. Even a short walk, a quiet cup of coffee, or pausing to listen to a worship song can be acts of Sabbath. The key is the heart. You make space, and God meets you there.
If you need community, I talked more about this with Laura in our podcast episode "Rest and Sabbath in a 24/7 Culture." We get real about where the guilt comes from and what actually helps. Give it a listen for encouragement and real-life examples. And don’t miss "Faith in the Fast Lane" – another blog where we talk about how to find purpose even when life moves fast.
“How to Embrace Sabbath” Is About Trust, Not To-Do Lists
Here’s what I want every woman to know: God is not waiting on you to “get it together” before you enjoy His rest. How to embrace Sabbath is not about completing another Bible study or checking off your quiet time. It’s about letting your Father do what only He can – giving you peace even when life is wild.
Let the Sabbath remind you, every single week, that you are loved, chosen, and called. Not for what you do, but for who you belong to. If this is hard for you, you are not alone. Every one of us needs the reminder. And there is so much more peace waiting on the other side of letting go.
I hope you feel encouraged today. Try one small act – take a Sabbath moment, breathe, and let your heart rest in the truth that God calls you loved, right now. If this blessed you, hop over and listen to the full podcast episode. Share it with a girlfriend who needs to hear she is allowed to rest, too. Together, we can practice how to embrace Sabbath – not as a reward, but as the beautiful gift Jesus says it is.
