This month, we welcome Life Mentoring Director Ms. Mary Grace Tanudtanud to share her reflections on Sabbath rest and her sabbatical experience.
During the pandemic, I found myself, like many others, distanced from my family and church. And as I turned sixty in September 2020, I asked myself, “What am I doing?” I thought about seeking professional coaching to help me discern what the Lord might want for me in my later years. But that idea didn’t materialize at the time.
Even before that year, I had been feeling exhausted. Every day, I faced a long to-do list, half of which often remained unfinished, adding to my stress. Uncompleted tasks weighed heavily on me emotionally. My weeks were packed with work—meetings, programs, events, coaching, teaching—and on top of that, I had been struggling with insomnia. My mind felt cluttered. Then, during one of my prayer and fasting sessions at the start of the year in 2022, I wrote in my journal: steadfast, slow down, simplify, say no, sleep, stop, do something new. I’ve kept that note ever since.
Then, in 2023, I finally sought guidance on understanding the Sabbath and the concept of sabbatical. I explored secular and theological/biblical resources, hoping to gain a richer understanding.
Experiencing God During My Sabbatical
Purpose is essential when taking a sabbatical, and I focused on what I had always wanted to do but couldn’t due to work. I taught biblical counseling at our church’s Bible school and spent more time with my 93-year-old mother. I also intentionally reconnected with family, friends, and ministry partners. I participated in corporate prayer gatherings and took personal retreats as well.
God affirmed my decision and brought rest to my soul. I have peace, knowing that God is sovereignly at work in my life. He took care of the responsibilities I left behind. After all, it’s His work, and I am simply a steward. The work continued in my absence.
Regular Rhythm of Rest
You might be wondering what Sabbath rest might look like. This is a structure I learned from the Pete Scazzero, author of The Emotionally Healthy Leader: Stop, Rest, Delight, and Contemplate.
After my sabbatical, I have been intentionally slowing down, setting aside a day to stop, rest, and spend extended time reading and studying the Bible, journaling, as well as enjoying quality time with my family, without feeling guilty for not working. While I haven’t fully practiced the 24-hour Sabbath, I don’t want to approach it legalistically. Instead, I’m working towards creating a rhythm that fits well with my life. I am exploring adding the rhythm of rest to the Life Mentoring team.
A Divine Invitation to Stop
A statement from The Gospel Coalition struck me: “Sabbath and rest must be a regular rhythm and not just a response to exhaustion.” Additionally, Pete Scazzero said, “Sabbath or sabbatical is allowing God to replenish the soil of our souls.” These statements keep ringing in my ears.
While mindfulness, self-care, and mental health benefits often come from observing the Sabbath, it is so much more than that. Sabbath is a divine invitation to stop—stop working, stop striving, and rest in God’s presence. It’s a set-apart time to cease from our daily labors and focus on what truly matters: communion with the Lord. Sabbath is about trusting that God is sovereign and that our work will continue in His timing, even when we pause.
Yours in Christ,
Mary Grace Tanudtanud
IGSL Life Mentoring Director
