After our Sunday service this morning, we dropped by a nearby café to relax and reflect. As I sat there, I found myself thinking: What should I really do during my upcoming Sabbatical? I only have two weeks left before I leave my corporate job. While I’ve already set my heart on spending the first three months dwelling in the presence of the Lord, I realized I haven’t mapped out the details yet.
And to be honest, that unsettles me.
For so long, my weeks were defined by a rhythm—preparing for work, going to work, resting from work. Rinse and repeat. But now that I’m stepping into a season without that structure, I’m left wondering: How do I spend my days when the pattern I’ve lived by is gone?
Sure, I planned to rest. But rest, for some reason, feels… uncomfortable.
I don’t want to waste this time. I don’t want to simply sleep through it, or let the days pass without intention. Each day is a gift from God—too precious to take for granted. Yet, being so used to doing something, I now find myself fighting the urge to fill the blank space with noise and busyness. Deep down, I fear that I might waste this year, or fail to honor this calling to step back.
It feels strange, doesn’t it? We know rest is biblical—commanded even. But somehow, when we actually step into it, it can feel more like disorientation than delight.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’” – Isaiah 30:15
That verse stopped me in my tracks. It made me ask, Lord, have I misunderstood rest?
Instead of continuing to overthink, I pulled out my notebook and began to write. I listed my usual daily routines—morning to evening, Monday through Sunday. Then I whispered a simple prayer:
“Lord, what do You want me to replace this with?”
“What do You want me to learn in this season?”
“What do You want me to impart to others?”
After that quiet moment with the Lord, I started writing down things that were already on my heart:
I want to write more—especially to share the journey of faith I’m on.
I want to dive deeper into Scripture—not just reading, but studying and reflecting.
I want to join outreach opportunities and extend love to others.
Instead of letting these thoughts float in my mind, I laid them down before the Lord.
This coming week, I’m dedicating time to plan intentionally. Not because I want to control everything, but because I believe God is a God of order and purpose. He doesn’t just send us into the wilderness for no reason—He meets us there.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3
I may not have the full picture yet, but I trust the Lord will reveal the next step in due time. For now, I will take the first one: to seek Him, to listen, and to prepare my heart.
If rest feels uncomfortable to you too, maybe it’s not a sign that you’re doing something wrong. Maybe it’s simply an invitation—to lean into the discomfort and let God redefine what rest truly looks like.
I don’t want to enter this sabbatical with fear. I want to enter it with faith.
With my head high.
And with God beside me.
“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11
Here’s to the uncomfortable, beautiful, sacred work of learning how to rest.
Faithfully,
Yani
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