The Sabbath Called: You’ve Been Ghosting It. Stop Crashing Out

My iPhone soul is at 1% - time to tackle life's hardest challenges.

In a world that never stops spinning, rest is something we talk about but rarely practice. We might sit still, but our minds do not. We fill quiet moments with screens, endless lists, and more ways to stay distracted. Even the idea of rest can make us feel guilty—like we are falling behind if we pause. But the kind of rest we need is not about escaping life. It is about returning to it.

Noticing when you are tired is one thing. But asking why you are tired—that is where rest begins to take shape. There is a difference between collapsing into sleep and being aware enough to say, “My soul is worn thin.” It takes self-awareness to recognize that your exhaustion is not just physical. Sometimes we are soul-tired. And soul-tired cannot be fixed with a nap or a day off. Sure, nap or a day off gives us permission or sets the stage for the most valuable step, but out soul needs something deeper. Something gentler.

We often run from that deeper need. Instead of slowing down, we hide in busyness or numb ourselves with distractions. But real rest does not come from checking out. It comes from checking in—pausing long enough to ask what is really going on inside. Rest, then, becomes a form of honesty. A quiet confession: I cannot keep holding it all together.

Psalm 116 gives voice to that kind of honesty.

“Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” 

That word—return—it matters. Rest is not just stopping. It is coming back. Back to the truth that God is near. That He has already carried us through more than we remember. That He is still present, still sustaining, still kind. When we return to rest, we return to Him.

Sometimes, God makes us lie down, because we will not choose to on our own. Psalm 23 says,

“He makes me lie down in green pastures… He restores my soul.” 

Not He asks. Not He suggests. He makes. And not to punish, but to restore.

That word again. Restore.

Not recharge like a phone. Not reset like a calendar. Restore—like something sacred being brought back to its original beauty.

For those who follow Jesus, rest is not just healthy. It is holy. It is a quiet act of trust, a surrender that says, “I do not have to do it all to be loved.” Jesus never rushed. He never burned out. He made time to pull away. He pulled away to pray. If the Son of God, who was sinless and perfect needed rhythms of rest and solitude, how much more do we who fall short? Rest reminds us we are human. And being human is not a flaw. It is the very design of our Creator.

And then, there is the invitation (Matthew 11:28).

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

Jesus did not say come to Him when you have it together. He said come when you are tired. When you are worn. When your soul feels like it is carrying more than it was meant to hold. He promises rest—not as a transaction, but as a gift. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… and you will find rest for your souls.” This is not hustle. It is grace. A pace that is unforced. A life that is light.

Thought Provoking Questions

1. What are you carrying today that is making you tired?

2. Where have you confused distraction for rest?

3. What might happen if you gave yourself permission to stop, not just to pause, but to be held?

Journaling Prompt: Find a quiet space and ask yourself:

1. What kind of tired am I?

2. What is something I am doing to escape instead of restoring?

3. Where is God inviting me to return to Him in rest?

Let your answers be honest. There is no rush. This is where rest begins to reveal.