Gospel Rhythms: Rest and Work That Honor God
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12 (ESV)
In our last post, we explored the trap of survival mode and how it can quietly harden into a way of life. Maybe as you reflected, you realized your pace is unsustainable—not just physically, but spiritually. You’re not alone.
I remember when I finally recognized that my “push through” mindset wasn’t temporary anymore. The strategies that had helped us survive the early days of our adoption had become habits. It was humbling to admit: I wasn’t managing time at all; time was managing me. Each day felt like a series of emergencies, and I knew something had to change. The constant strain was shaping the tone of our home and, by extension, our ministry.
Over the past decade, I’ve thought deeply about how the way we work reflects what we truly believe about God and the gospel. Life in the 21st century—especially for those in ministry—is relentlessly fast-paced. And beneath the busyness lies an unspoken belief: a fuller schedule means a fuller life. More important. More fruitful.
But is that true?
Stewarding Our Time
Our culture tells us that time management is about taking control—maximizing productivity and squeezing every drop out of every day. But Scripture gives us a different paradigm.
From the very beginning, He ordered creation into a rhythm of work and rest. He created us to live within the limits of 24-hour days. He gave His people Sabbath, festivals, and even sabbatical years—not to burden them, but to remind them that life does not depend on their striving. Rest was not something they had to earn; it was His gift. These were invitations to pause, remember His provision, and rejoice in His goodness.
This is where we also need to begin. Time isn’t ours to control; it’s God’s. If survival mode keeps us reactive, gospel-rooted rhythms help us live wisely and fruitfully. Stewarding time well means asking: How can I use the time God has entrusted to me in a way that honors Him? It shifts the goal from efficiency to faithfulness.
In the early days of our adoption, there was no sense of direction—just a swirl of busy tasks. Anah’s schedule ruled our lives, and every day felt the same, with no breaks for weekends or holidays. She needed the routine for her stability, so our job was to maintain it. “This is temporary,” I told myself. “We just need to push through.”
Months turned into years. Then one day, I ended up in the doctor’s office and was promptly sent to the ER for a heart arrhythmia. I had noticed the episodes happening more often but brushed them off, assuming they were harmless since they always stopped on their own. Slowly, what began as an occasional warning sign had become my “new normal.” However, as I lay there, surrounded by medical staff, the reality finally hit me: this wasn’t normal. After ruling out other causes, the doctor concluded: the culprit was stress.
Looking back now, I see the deeper problem: I was afraid that if I stopped, I’d have to face the pain, shame, and grief I carried about our adoption. Without realizing it, I began numbing my heart—not only to my family but to God. I kept working, believing everything depended on me. And because of our situation, I never lacked things to do.
That crisis became a turning point. I realized I didn’t just need to rearrange my schedule; I needed to reorient my heart. Even here, the gospel began to shape how I thought about time.
1. Time stewardship flows from grace, not guilt.
God reminded me that my worth didn’t depend on how much I accomplished. In Christ, I was already fully loved and accepted (Eph. 1:6). That freed me to steward my time as an act of worship, not as a way to prove myself to Him or others.
To reflect this, I began scheduling rest first—not as a reward for finishing my work, but as a foundation to work from. That simple truth felt revolutionary: I could begin my week from a place of trust, not striving.
2. Rest is rooted in Christ’s finished work.
I’ll admit, at first, it felt reckless. What if I didn’t have enough time to get everything done? But I reminded myself: Jesus already declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Whether I finished or didn’t finish my work, He has finished His. My failure to complete my to-do list would not change His love and commitment to me. I could do what I could and then entrust what was unfinished to Him at the end of the day.
3. Stewardship is about serving others in love.
The first months of this new routine were hard. I often slipped back into old habits and worked through planned rest times. But slowly, God began changing my heart—and with it, the way I spent my working hours.
Having an established ending or rest time meant that I had a more clearly defined time limit for my work. This, in turn, made me more cognizant of time wasters as poor stewardship. I started cutting out busywork and online distractions.
Conversely, I also began to see what I considered burdensome mundane tasks as an opportunity to minister to my family and others. The gospel shifted my “why” for time management—not productivity for its own sake, but faithfulness in loving God and the people He had entrusted to me (Matt. 22:37–39).
4. We work with God, not for His approval.
Most importantly, I stopped picturing God as a distant taskmaster watching me slave away. Instead, I began to see Him as present—working with me, guiding my decisions moment by moment (Col. 1:29).
Gospel Principles to Anchor Your Days
As I look back, I see how God used that season—not to crush me, but to teach me a better way. The fruit was gradual but profound. My situation didn’t change—Anah still required constant care. But I changed. I began to live as a daughter trusting her Father, not as a slave to the urgent.
This doesn’t come easily. For many of us, slowing down feels impossible, or even irresponsible. But these gospel truths invite us into a different way of living.
1️. Begin with Rest – God designed our lives to flow from rest in Him.
In Christ, rest isn’t earned; it’s given (Matt. 11:28). What would it look like to schedule regular times of refreshment first—trusting that you don’t need to prove your worth by how much you do?
2️. Reframe Your Work – See daily tasks as ministry, not just fires to put out.
Because you are fully accepted in Christ (Eph. 1:6), your work isn’t a performance to earn approval but an act of worship (Col. 3:23), done diligently yet resting in Christ’s finished work. What small shifts could help you see even mundane tasks as ways to love God and serve others?
3️. Trust God with Outcomes – You can’t do it all, and you don’t have to.
The gospel frees us from self-reliance because God holds all things together (Col. 1:17). Where are you trying to carry burdens too heavy for you? What might it look like to surrender those to Him in faith?
These gospel-shaped lessons have become anchors for me—and I hope they encourage you too. Time isn’t meant to be your enemy. In Christ, it can become a gift to steward, not a burden to bear.