Our world glorifies being busy, but God didn’t design us to run nonstop. He designed us for rhythm, margin, and Sabbath. Sabbath isn’t just a day off. It is remembering who we are, who He is, and the sacred power of rest.

Exodus 20:8–11 (ESV)

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God… For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth… and rested on the seventh day.”

Sabbath is worship, not just rest.

God didn’t say, “Take a break because you’re tired.” He said, “Keep it holy.” Sabbath is a set-apart time for Him. It’s a weekly confession: God, You’re in charge. I’m not what I produce. I trust you more than my hustle.

Sabbath pushes back on striving and slows our pace so we can hear His voice. It reminds us that rest isn’t laziness. It’s obedience. For a kidmin leader, that may mean choosing a block of time that belongs to the Lord, even if your day off isn’t Sunday, and preparing earlier so Sabbath isn’t swallowed by last-minute tasks.

Even God rested.

In Genesis 2:2–3, God rested after creation. Not because He needed a nap, but because the work was finished. Rest was part of His design from the very beginning. If He didn’t skip it, why do we?

When we skip sacred rhythms, our souls get noisy and our pace gets frantic. We react instead of respond. Over time, we’re vulnerable to burnout, anxiety, and pride. Rest humbles us. It reminds us we’re not God and we’re not machines. Joy and peace aren’t luxuries. They’re fruit He wants for us. When we honor rest, we protect joy, tune our ears to His voice, and lead from wholeness, not weariness.

Rest makes room for refreshing.

Think of Elijah. In 1 Kings 18, he called down fire. In 1 Kings 19, he crashed. God didn’t scold him. He let him sleep and gave him food and water. “The journey is too much for you” (1 Kings 19:7). God met Elijah at his limits.

Ministry leaders hit those limits, too. You pour out on Sundays, midweek, at events. Watch for the dashboard lights. Maybe they’re irritability, cynicism, brain fog, or discouragement after a normal setback. Sabbath is how you pull off the freeway and let the Lord refuel you.

Jesus modeled margin.

Mark 6:31 records Jesus saying, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” The disciples were so busy they didn’t have time to eat. Jesus invited them to stop. He invites us to the same.

For kidmin leaders, build “off-stage” time into your week. Block it like a meeting you wouldn’t cancel. Protect a quiet morning after a heavy Sunday. Tell your team, “I’m away with the Lord for a few hours. Text only if urgent.”

Sabbath teaches trust.

We resist Sabbath because we fear things will fall apart without us. Sabbath answers, God can do more with my six than I can do with seven. It is trust and identity. When you stop, you create room for Him to provide through others, strengthen your body, and sharpen your clarity. You also model a healthy culture. If the leader never rests, the team will assume rest is disobedience.

Practical ways to embrace Sabbath.

Sabbath is a rhythm you practice, not a rule you perform. Start small and stay consistent.

• Unplug from screens for a set block.
• Worship with no agenda.
• Get outside and notice God’s creation.
• Share a slow meal and laugh with family.
• Say no to one draining thing and yes to one restoring thing.
• Protect a weekly window to invite God to refresh your heart.
• Plan ahead so you’re not scrambling on your day of rest.

For church teams, create a simple plan. Identify shared Sabbath windows, pause nonessential messages, and celebrate when staff and volunteers honor rest.

Lead from overflow, not survival.

Sabbath is worship and trust. It declares your worth isn’t your output, and your peace isn’t your pace. When you create space to rest in Him, you make room to be renewed by Him. You lead better because you’re being led. You serve with joy because you’re being filled with joy.

When you rest, you declare that God is enough, and you don’t carry the weight of everything. You begin to lead from overflow, not survival. You create space to enjoy the life He gave you and the people He entrusted to you.

Remember Jesus’ invitation. Come away and rest a while. Say yes, and you’ll find Sabbath doesn’t slow your ministry down. It steadies it, strengthens it, and keeps your heart soft and your hands ready for the good work God’s called you to do.

Alysia Gonzales is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Harvest Church in CA. She oversees kids ministries to ensure the church's culture is consistently maintained at each campus. Her desire is to empower kidmin leaders to lead with purpose and passion, and to see the next generation raised up ready to influence the church and the world with the power and love of Jesus.