This week, I found myself wrapping up my tasks—finalizing handovers, ticking off checklists, and making sure everything’s in place before I leave my corporate job next week.
As I did, I thought: Maybe I should write about why I decided to take a sabbatical. Not just so others can understand—but so I can remember this moment before the story starts to blur. This post is longer than usual, but I hope you’ll journey with me.
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It Didn’t Begin with a Plan — It Began with a Prayer
This sabbatical wasn’t the result of years of strategic planning. It came after months of consistently seeking God.
Over the past year, our company went through a lot of changes—schedule shifts, reduced flexibility, and a major reorganization. I had to move out of my hometown and rent a place near the office to keep up. Responsibilities increased. So did the stress.
Stress isn’t new to me. I’ve had worse seasons. But something about this one felt different. Even in the fatigue, it created space for something sacred: more time with the Lord.
Despite the challenges, I saw beauty—especially in being able to read the Bible, day and night.
Still, there was a persistent nudge in my spirit whispering, You need to rest.
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Honest Prayers in a Hurried Life
In that tension, I began praying this over and over:
“Lord, if You won’t change my situation, then please change my heart. Help me see the beauty in where I am.”
Not every prayer was peaceful. Like Moses, I often poured out my frustration and exhaustion to God. I began to feel a growing desire to leave—but I knew I couldn’t make a decision based on emotion alone. I had been stressed in other jobs before. But this time, the stress wasn’t the only thing—it was the stirring that felt different.
I opened up to people I trust—my sisters, my best friends, my small group. One day, my sister gently said, “Maybe you need a break.” That gave me clarity. So I filed a long leave, flew to the UAE, and gave myself permission to rest.
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Rest in the Desert
That trip felt like a holy pause. I relaxed and explored—but what I valued most was the untimed quiet time with the Lord. I journaled, prayed, and read freely. While I didn’t get the answer right away, my spirit was reset.
When I returned, things felt lighter. I still loved engineering. I still enjoyed my work. But there was a lingering restlessness in my soul. The signs to stay and to leave were both present—and I felt stuck.
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A Journal Entry That Stopped Me
One morning, instead of writing in my journal, I opened my older entries. That’s when I found this line, written several years ago:
“Quit work in 2025.”
I froze. I didn’t remember writing it. But there it was. It felt like God had planted that seed in my heart long ago—and was now bringing it to life.
A few pages later, I found another prayer, written a year ago:
“Lord, I want to trust You in my future. Help me.
Change my heart or change my environment.
I don’t want a complicated and worried life.
Lord, I don’t want a hurried life and an anxious heart.
I want to enjoy little moments, see the sun, breathe in Your creation.
I’m tired of the rush. I long for the life You promise—a life of peace and abundance.”
That’s when it became clear: I wasn’t just tired—I was yearning for rest. Deep, soul-level rest. The kind only God could provide.
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When the Right Opportunity Still Feels Wrong
Around this time, a recruiter reached out. The job was fully remote and aligned perfectly with my skills. The interview even ended with:
“It’s up to you now if you want to take the position.”
But something didn’t feel right. I was uneasy the whole time, and I couldn’t explain why.
When HR asked for my expected salary, I did something uncharacteristic: I asked for double my current pay. Part of me thought, If this is really from You, Lord, maybe they’ll say yes.
They didn’t—it was outside their budget. But honestly, I was relieved. That closed door felt like confirmation. I knew deep down it wasn’t where I was meant to go.
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Leviticus 25: A Rhythm of Rest
In the middle of all this, I began a deeper study of what rest meant in Scripture. I landed on Leviticus 25:
“But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord… Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.”
— Leviticus 25:4
I realized I had worked nonstop for over six years. I hadn’t been living in God’s rhythm. Just like God rested on the seventh day of creation, He also commanded the land to rest every seventh year.
It wasn’t just about physical rest—it was about trust:
“You may ask, ‘What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest?’ I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years.”
— Leviticus 25:20–21
When I read that, I was in awe. I looked at my finances and realized: God had already provided. I had enough to pause, to breathe, and to follow His lead.
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Confirmations from Heaven and People
One Sunday after service, my pastor asked if I could preach the following weekend while she went on a mission trip. I said yes—always yes to the Lord.
I chose to speak on Leviticus 25. That whole week, I immersed myself in Scripture, tracing the context back to Genesis and studying God’s rhythm. I listened to sermons, took notes, and prayed for wisdom. The more I studied, the more my conviction deepened.
Still, doubts crept in. So I held on to Proverbs 15:22:
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22
I consulted my mentors, close friends, and family. Their prayers and encouragement affirmed what I had been sensing all along.
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I Finally Said Yes
With prayer, preparation, and peace in my heart—I resigned.
I had honest, meaningful conversations with my managers. The timing felt right. And in my spirit, I knew: this was the next right thing.
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Final Thoughts
I didn’t leave because I hated my job.
I left because I was being led—by God—into His rhythm of rest.
This sabbatical is obedience.
It’s surrender.
It’s trust.
I don’t have everything figured out. But I have peace.
And that’s more than enough.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
— Isaiah 26:3
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Reflective Question
Is there an area in your life where God might be inviting you to slow down, let go, or simply trust Him more?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to share in the comments section.
Faithfully,
Yani
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