Rest is a Lifeline And a Command
Building a flywheel of success for life and career
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” — Exodus 20:8
Three of the Ten Commandments focus on honoring God, and six on living well with others. The fourth commandment, the Sabbath, acts as the bridge between the two. It reminds us that rest is not just a human need but a spiritual discipline. In Egypt, the Israelites were slaves under Pharaoh’s harsh demands, always producing and never pausing. The Lord’s deliverance was not just from slavery but from an entire economy built on endless striving.
Yahweh's economy runs on sufficiency—trusting that He provides enough. That trust makes rest possible. We don’t need to hustle endlessly or envy what others have. We rest because God is enough.
In the Old Testament, rest came after work. In the New Testament, because of Jesus’ finished work, we begin from rest. In both cases, rest is sacred. Sabbath isn’t about rigid rules, it’s about rhythm. As Dr. Vivek Murthy pointed out in his commencement speech, the heart doesn’t just beat, it pauses. The diastole, or resting phase, is what oxygenates the heart itself. Without rest, even the heart cannot survive.
In our home, we have built Sabbath rhythms into both our daily and weekly lives. Devices stay out of our bedroom. Our Sundays are mostly screen-free. After editing the church video, we eat with friends, rest, read, play, and nap. That pause has not only restored our bodies and minds, it has brought our family closer.
In corporate life, where the pressure never seems to stop with global clients, back-to-back calls, and constant notifications, Sabbath is more relevant than ever. If we don’t choose rest, burnout will choose us. But when we honor rest as holy, it restores more than just our productivity. It restores identity, clarity, and connection.
The rhythm of rest reorients us to what truly matters: God and His purposes.
# Action Items
- Reflect on your relationship with rest. Do you see it as laziness or as worship? Ask God to reshape your view.
- Design a Sabbath rhythm, daily or weekly, that gives your mind and body space to breathe.
- Invite your family or team to join in a shared rest practice, such as tech-free evenings, restful Sundays, or slow family meals.