So here’s the deal—this is one of those weeks where I needed this message just as much as anyone listening. We’re talking about Sabbath over striving. That mindset shift from hustle and pressure to real rest. Not just naps and bubble baths—real, spiritual rest.
Now let me back up and tell you a little country-living story.
Lately, we’ve been waking up to the worst skunk smell. Like, waking-up-out-of-your-sleep kind of strong. And wouldn’t you know, we’ve figured out that little guy is somehow under our bedroom. Not the living room. Not the kitchen. Right under our bedroom.
This morning, my husband got up early and let our dog Lex out—bless her, she’s got more anxiety than any dog I’ve ever known. We literally have to medicate her. He let her out, then heard her yelp and saw her take off running. We thought, Oh no. She got sprayed.
She didn’t, thankfully. But she was shaken. Just totally panicked, jumping around, out of her mind. And I realized… that’s us. That’s me, some days. Running around, scared, overthinking, carrying anxiety I was never meant to carry.
That’s striving.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Some translations say “Be still,” but I really love that phrase cease striving. Because when you look at the original Hebrew, it means to slacken, drop, go limp—almost like you’ve got nothing left and you’re just falling into His arms like melted wax.
That’s the picture.
Not strong, pulled-together, capable woman of the world—but totally dependent, trusting daughter of God. And y’all… we don’t like that. Especially if we’ve been hurt before, especially women who’ve had to survive and protect and provide—we get into that “Miss Independent” mode. But that’s not how we’re meant to live.
God established Sabbath from the very beginning. Genesis tells us He created for six days, and then He rested. Not because He needed a break, but to set a rhythm and an example. Then in Exodus, He told His people to keep the Sabbath holy—set apart. It was never just about physical rest. It was about trust.
In Hebrews 4, we’re reminded that the Sabbath isn’t just a day. It’s a whole lifestyle. It’s faith-rest. It’s the understanding that because of Jesus—because of the finished work of the cross—we’re not working for approval, identity, or provision. We’re working from rest. From completion. From grace.
So why do we keep striving?
Why do we act like we have to fix it all, solve it all, hold it all together? We’re not God.
When I start to feel overwhelmed, when I have a full-blown meltdown (yep, had one this week), it’s usually because I’ve shifted back into striving. I’ve slipped out of rest and trust and back into “I’ve got to do this all myself.” And that’s not how we were designed to live.
Here’s what I’ve learned: Rest is resistance.
It’s resistance to the world’s pressure, to the culture that says “if you’re not producing, you’re not valuable.” Rest is holy. It’s powerful. It’s a declaration that says, “God can do more with my obedience than I can do with my hustle.”
So let’s get practical:
- Build in Sabbath-style rest. Block off an hour this week: no screens, no tasks, no noise—just you and God. Sit with Him. Don’t perform. Don’t beg. Just be.
- Set boundaries. With work. With ministry. With people-pleasing. Saying no to good things can protect the God things.
- Practice stillness. Start your day in silence. Read a scripture, set a timer, and just sit. Let Him speak to you. Be still. Be limp. Fall like wax in His arms.
- Stop measuring your worth by your productivity. You are not a to-do list. You are not your hustle.
The bottom line? You can stop. It’s finished.
Would you like more resources to help you on your faith journey? Make sure to sign up for my email list at www.ShanaStrange.net
if you want more on the Sabbath over striving topic, catch the full podcast episode here: https://grace-grit.castos.com/episodes/the-mindset-shift-of-sabbath-over-striving
