Why We Don't Work on Sundays
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God." - Exodus 20:8-10
Today I want to share something that Jake and I feel strongly about but know isn't always popular in our busy, productivity-focused culture: we don't work on Sundays. Not because we're legalistic or think we're earning points with God, but because we believe God designed us to need rest, and Sunday is our day to honor Him and refresh our souls.
God's Design for Rest
From the very beginning of creation, God established a pattern of work and rest. Genesis 2:2-3 tells us that "by the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
Now, God didn't rest because He was tired—He's all-powerful and never grows weary (Isaiah 40:28). He rested to establish a pattern for us, His creation. He knew we would need rhythm in our lives, a regular time to step back from our work and remember what truly matters.
When God gave the Ten Commandments, keeping the Sabbath wasn't presented as a suggestion—it was the fourth commandment, right alongside not murdering or stealing. That tells me it's pretty important to God that we take regular rest seriously.
Why Sunday?
I know there's some debate about which day should be our Sabbath. The Jewish Sabbath is Saturday, and some Christians maintain that tradition. For us, we've chosen Sunday because it's the day when Christ rose from the dead, and it's traditionally been the Christian day of worship and rest.
The key isn't the specific day as much as it is the principle: setting aside one day in seven to focus on God, rest from our labors, and refresh our souls. Romans 14:5 reminds us that "one person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."
What matters is that we're being intentional about honoring God with our time and embracing His gift of rest.
What Sunday Looks Like for Us
Our Sundays begin with worship. We attend church together, participate in corporate singing and prayer, hear God's Word preached, and fellowship with our church family. This sets the tone for the entire day—we start by focusing on God rather than on ourselves or our to-do lists.
After church, we intentionally slow down. We might take a nap (yes, really!), go for a leisurely walk, read good books, have long conversations, or simply enjoy each other's company without the pressure of productivity. We often have people over for lunch or dinner, creating space for deeper relationships and hospitality.
We don't do household projects, catch up on work emails, run errands, or tackle our weekly cleaning. Those things can wait until Monday. Sunday is for rest, worship, and relationship.
The Temptation to Be "Productive"
I'll be honest—in our culture, this isn't always easy. There's constant pressure to be productive, to use every moment efficiently, to always be working toward the next goal. Sometimes I feel guilty for "wasting" a whole day when there's so much that needs to be done.
But here's what I've learned: rest isn't wasteful—it's essential. Jesus Himself regularly withdrew from the crowds to rest and pray (Luke 5:16). If the Son of God needed regular rest, how much more do we?
When we honor God's design for rest, we actually become more productive during our six working days. We're refreshed, focused, and able to work with joy rather than exhaustion. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us there's "a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens"—including a time to rest.
What About Necessary Work?
Of course, some work is necessary even on Sundays. Jesus addressed this when the Pharisees criticized His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath. He reminded them that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).
We understand that doctors, nurses, police officers, and others in essential services sometimes must work on Sundays. Parents still need to care for their children. Basic meal preparation and care for others continues.
The question isn't whether every single activity stops, but whether we're honoring the principle of rest and worship. Are we using "necessity" as an excuse to avoid rest, or are we genuinely dealing with unavoidable responsibilities?
For us, we try to prepare as much as possible on Saturday so Sunday can truly be restful. We do our grocery shopping, meal prep, and household tasks earlier in the week. We plan ahead so Sunday can be what God intended it to be.
The Spiritual Benefits
Keeping Sunday as a day of rest and worship has blessed our marriage and our spiritual lives in countless ways. It forces us to slow down and remember that our worth isn't found in our productivity but in our identity as God's beloved children.
It creates space for deeper conversations, both with each other and with God. When we're not rushing from task to task, we can actually listen—to the Holy Spirit's leading, to each other's hearts, and to what God might be teaching us.
Sunday rest also requires faith. It means trusting that God will help us accomplish what needs to be done in six days, rather than trying to squeeze work into every available moment. It's a weekly exercise in trusting God's provision rather than relying on our own efforts.
The Physical and Emotional Benefits
God designed our bodies and minds to need regular rest, and modern science confirms what Scripture has always taught. Regular rest improves our physical health, mental clarity, and emotional resilience. It reduces stress, prevents burnout, and helps us maintain perspective on what truly matters.
When we're constantly working, we become irritable, anxious, and lose sight of the bigger picture. But when we regularly step back and rest, we return to our work refreshed and with renewed purpose.
I've noticed that our marriage is stronger when we protect our Sunday rest. We have time to connect without distractions, to dream together, and to remember why we fell in love in the first place. Rest isn't selfish—it actually makes us better spouses, friends, and members of our community.
Preparing Our Hearts for the Week
Sunday rest also serves as preparation for the week ahead. When we start Monday feeling rested and spiritually refreshed, we're better equipped to handle whatever challenges come our way. We've spent time with God, remembered His faithfulness, and aligned our hearts with His priorities.
Psalm 127:2 says, "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves." God wants to give us rest as a gift, not as something we have to earn through exhaustion.
When Others Don't Understand
Not everyone understands our commitment to Sunday rest. Some friends think we're being unnecessarily rigid. Some family members have been frustrated when we've declined Sunday invitations that would require work or stress.
We try to explain our convictions graciously while staying firm in our boundaries. We're not judging others who make different choices, but we are being faithful to what we believe God has called us to do.
Sometimes this means missing out on certain opportunities or disappointing people. But we've found that the long-term benefits of consistent rest far outweigh the short-term inconveniences.
Planning for Future Children
When God blesses us with children, we want to teach them the importance of Sabbath rest from an early age. Not as a burdensome rule, but as a delightful rhythm that brings joy and peace to our family life.
We want our children to grow up knowing that they are loved for who they are, not for what they accomplish. We want them to see that rest and worship are priorities in our home, and that rushing through life isn't the goal.
Deuteronomy 5:14 specifically mentions that the Sabbath rest is for the whole household, including children and servants. God cares about everyone having access to regular rest, not just adults.
Grace in the Journey
I want to be clear that we don't do this perfectly. There have been Sundays when we've had to handle emergencies or when we've made exceptions for special circumstances. The goal isn't perfection but faithfulness to the principle.
We've also learned that different seasons of life might require different approaches. Young parents with infants might need to adjust their expectations. People with demanding careers might need to be creative about how they find rest.
The key is being intentional about creating space for rest and worship, even if it doesn't look exactly like someone else's practice.
An Invitation to Rest
If you've never tried setting aside one day a week for rest and worship, I want to encourage you to consider it. Start small if you need to—maybe just avoid work emails for a few hours, or plan one Sunday afternoon without any tasks or errands.
Pay attention to how it feels to slow down. Notice what happens in your heart when you're not constantly trying to be productive. See if you feel more refreshed for the week ahead when you've taken time to truly rest.
You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it and how much your soul needs it.
God's Good Gift
Ultimately, Sunday rest isn't about following rules—it's about receiving God's good gift. He knows we need regular rhythms of work and rest, worship and relationship. He's given us the Sabbath not to burden us but to bless us.
When we embrace His design for our lives, including His design for rest, we discover that His ways truly are best. We find joy in simplicity, peace in slowing down, and strength in taking time to worship and rest.
I pray that you'll discover the blessing of Sabbath rest in your own life, whatever that looks like for your circumstances and calling.
A Weekly Reminder
Every Sunday, as we choose rest over productivity and worship over work, we're reminded of what truly matters. We remember that our identity isn't found in what we accomplish but in whose we are. We celebrate that God is in control and that the world won't fall apart if we take a day to rest.
In a culture that worships busyness and productivity, choosing rest is actually a radical act of faith. It's declaring that we trust God more than we trust our own efforts. And that's a lesson worth learning every single week.
Sweet friends, I encourage you to consider how God might be calling you to embrace His gift of rest. Your soul needs it, your relationships will benefit from it, and your work will actually improve because of it.
Blessings and rest,
Becca
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." - Matthew 11:28-29