Can a Mom Practice Sabbath Rest? Shabbat For Busy Moms

Is it really possible for a mom to practice Sabbath rest? Is Shabbat for busy moms an attainable goal or just a fleeting dream? Finding rest on Shabbat with kids can be quite the challenge. Let’s face it, our kids still needs us on the Sabbath Day. Noses still need to be wiped and boo boos still need to be kissed. Today we will discuss how we, as moms, can rest on the Sabbath while still honoring our God-given calling of motherhood.

Moms can practice Sabbath rest when they have a positive mindset. In addition, Sabbath rest is possible for moms when they implement several practices such as planning ahead, learning when to say “no” to additional responsibilities, and being intentional about getting physical and spiritual rest in small pockets of time.

How To Rest on The Sabbath With Kids

We’ve all been there. Friday evening is soon approaching and while you’d give anything for a day of rest, you’re just not ready. Your Preparation Day has been full of unexpected events and a million distractions. Your kids pull you in different directions. The menu for Shabbat is still unknown. And as the sun sinks behind the trees the chicken you just pulled out of the freezer for Erev Shabbat dinner is as hard as a brick. There is still so much to be done and you are racing against the sunset. You slide into Shabbat on two wheels feeling frazzled and unaccomplished.

Have you been there, friend? I know I have. This roller coaster of emotions has often left me wondering, “Can a mom practice Sabbath rest?” Like, a real Sabbath Day. One where I actually feel rested. A Shabbat that leaves me feeling refreshed and energized from spending time with my husband, kids, faith family, and, most importantly, my Heavenly Father.

Sabbath Rest for Moms

It goes without saying that the way I feel on or immediately following the Shabbat has no bearing on the holiness of this set-apart day. The Sabbath Day is ordained by Yahweh and stands on its own, regardless of how I feel. However, Yeshua said that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). So I’ve got to believe that Sabbath rest is for moms too. And if anyone needs rest from all of the craziness of the week, it’s moms!

Resting on the Sabbath as a Mom

There have been many Shabbats where I feel defeated in the area of rest. I often hear a voice that says, “Face it, you don’t get to rest on Shabbat–you’re a mom.” Or, “Can a mom practice Sabbath rest? Really?” This voice comes from the darkness and speaks lies. These are the whispers from an enemy who wants to see you exhausted and frazzled. He wants you busy and distracted. The adversary sees the power of Yeshua in you and the potential you have to change the world through your family, even if you don’t.

Mama, you are a Kingdom builder. Every meal you prepare, every load of laundry you wash, every snotty nose you wipe is a blessing to your family. You are creating a home atmosphere conducive to raising arrows for the glory of God. Arrows of light that will one day be shot into the darkness of the world. And in order to be the best mamas we can be for our families, we must take care of our bodies and souls. We must make it a priority to find rest on the Sabbath Day–even with all of the responsibilities that fall on us as moms.

How to Rest on Shabbat When You’re a Mom

Because of the power of Yeshua within us, we have the power to rebuke the voice of the enemy when he tells us that Shabbat isn’t for us to enjoy. We have the authority to delight in the Shabbat rest that has been gifted to us from above. As moms, we don’t need to miss out on the blessing of being rejuvenated physically and spiritually on a weekly basis.

I know, I know. . . rest and rejuvenation sound wonderful, but practically speaking, how do we have a Sabbath Day as a mom? How can we still do the “mom thing” while taking pleasure in the Shabbat? Can a mom practice Sabbath rest? While it takes some intention on our part, I firmly believe that the answer is a resounding “yes!”

Sabbath Rest for Moms: A Gift From God

Yahweh doesn’t take back the gifts that He gives, and the Sabbath is no exception. Your “Sabbath Day card” doesn’t get revoked when you become a mom–at least, I can’t find a Scripture about that. I believe that when we decide that we can’t rest on the Sabbath Day as moms we have forfeited our gift of rest. This can be due to a wide range of reasons such as feelings of unworthiness, pure exhaustion, or confusion about how to rest as a mom.

Can a Mom Practice Sabbath Rest?

Let’s get down to business. As moms, we need practical steps that we can take in order to set ourselves up for success when it come to resting on the Sabbath Day. If you’d like a peek into our family’s Sabbath Day traditions, click HERE. And if you’re looking for practical tips to rest in Yahweh, keep reading. The ideas that follow will help you make the most of your Shabbat and get the rest you need.

The Sabbath Day: Check Your Mindset

The fact that this step is listed first is not accident. Here’s the deal: the other action steps that follow will do you no good if you don’t have the proper mindset. Simply put, if you believe that you can’t rest on the Sabbath Day as a mom, you never will. As believers, we must learn to filter our thoughts through Yehovah’s Truth in order to determine if they hold water. I like to use the following Scripture as my “thought filter”:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. — Philippians 4:8

Is the idea that you can’t enjoy the Sabbath as a mom true? Nope. Yeshua said that the Sabbath was made for us, remember? Is the thought that we can’t have a Sabbath honorable? No way. Continue to process your thoughts this way. In most cases, each of your thoughts won’t be able to get past the first “whatever is true” test. Changing your mindset regarding keeping the Sabbath Day as a mom will take time, but it is the most important step. Ask the Father to do a work in your heart if you feel like this is an area that is holding you back from delighting in the Sabbath Day.

Check Your Expectations

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned over the years, it’s that misplaced expectations can leave us feeling deflated and empty when things don’t work out like we hoped. I think that is one reason that Sabbath rest for moms feels like an elusive dream. If we believe that the Sabbath Day should involve us sitting on a beach somewhere sipping a drink with a cute little umbrella perched on the side of the glass, we will be sorely disappointed. However, if we treasure the pockets of time we have to delight in the Lord our hearts will be full of gratitude.

While physical rest is important and should be prioritized, Shabbat is not about taking naps all day long. It’s about resting in Yahweh’s goodness. Basking in His glory. Letting your heart be flooded with gratitude that we get to be His kids. And if you happen to have the opportunity to delight in Him while swinging in a hammock on a warm Spring day, more power to ya. I’ll be over here slicking down by kid’s cow lick before Shabbat service and serving my family dinner out of my Instant Pot.

Prepare All Week Long

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a wife and mother, trying to do a week’s worth of work in one day will leave me feeling burnt out and depleted. Preparation Day should be set aside for just that: preparation for the Sabbath. I like to think about this special day as one that is meant for tying up the week’s loose ends. Fridays are not the time to start decluttering your bulging bedroom closet or cleaning the whole house. On Preparation Day, do only the things that must be done. It is a day for buttoning up our to-do list and winding down.

One of the most valuable systems that I have implemented in my home is doing a little housework every day instead of letting it all pile up. For example, every day I give my bathrooms a quick wipe down and do a load of laundry–even if it’s small. That way, I’m not waiting until my bathrooms are filthy and my mountain of laundry rivals Mt. Everest. Making light housework part of my daily routine keeps it manageable and I’m not scrambling to clean the whole house in preparation for Shabbat. This system allows me to enjoy a clean(ish) home all week and only focus on the important tasks when Preparation Day rolls around.

Let Go of Perfection

Hello. My name is Sunny and I’m a recovering perfectionist. If you struggle with perfectionism, you know that it can be paralyzing. Perfectionists tend to have all-or-nothing attitudes. And I used to approach the Sabbath Day with this attitude. I felt as though I couldn’t completely rest and delight in the Day, so why even try? I was just going through the motions and I was way off base.

The Father knows that we are moms. He knows how hard we work and He sees how much we love our families. I don’t believe for one minute that He condemns us for doing the work that moms must do on Shabbat. What’s more, I believe that He will bless our efforts to rest in the pockets of time that we can. Maybe take some time before the kids get up on Shabbat to ponder the Scriptures and spend time communing with Him. After breakfast, ask your husband to read the kids a few Shabbat-themed books while you enjoy an extra cup of coffee in a quiet spot (if you can find one). Don’t discount the moments of time throughout the day that have the potential to feed your soul.

Take Advantage of Systems

I previously mentioned using a system that helps me keep my home (mostly) clean. I truly believe that systems are the ticket to minimizing anxiety and setting you up to enjoy the Sabbath Day as a mom. That’s because they keep your daily tasks and chores manageable so that they don’t pile up and overwhelm you when Shabbat rolls around. One of the best systems for keeping my home running like a well-oiled machine is the FLYLady System. A dear friend introduced me to this system and I can’t tell you how much it has helped me get a handle on keeping my house in order. Make no mistake–my house isn’t perfect, but this system has allowed me to gain control over the tasks that must be done in my home and alleviated a lot of burden for me. You can check it out by clicking HERE.

Give Another Mama a Helping Hand

I know what you’re thinking–I am barely getting everything done that I need to for the Sabbath Day and you want me to help another Mama? Like, right now? Yes. Yes, I do. Let me tell you why. When I feel like I’m drowning in a sea of tasks and chores leading up to Shabbat, looking outside the window of my own little world helps to take the focus off of myself and all of the overwhelm I feel. Philippians 2:4 says “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” This verse is true for every day of the week, including the Sabbath.

You may be surprised at how being intentional about helping another mama leading up to and on Shabbat will change your perspective. So what do I mean when I say we should “help” each other on the Sabbath Day? The simplest actions can make a big difference. Give the gift of your smile and some encouraging words. Offer to watch another mama’s kids while she brings in her belongings if you attend a Shabbat service. Write a note of encouragement and slip it in a mama friend’s hand or drop it in the mail. Just look around and ask the Holy Spirit to show you opportunities where you can be a blessing to another mama. He won’t let you down.

Unplug From Social Media

When it comes to resting on the Sabbath Day as a mom, unplugging from social media is one way that we can step away from the noise of the world in order to focus on the goodness of Yahweh. While social media can be a wonderful tool for connecting with friends and family, it can also be a huge distraction and time-stealer. In addition, social media has a way of making us feel as though we can never measure up to other moms, which can be discouraging. I don’t know about you, but I’m really good at being my own worst critic and don’t need any more discouragement in my life!

I encourage you to step away from social media on the Sabbath Day. This may be difficult as I have found that social media can be addicting. Taking a break from it may take a whole lot of intention and effort on your part. That’s okay–it’s worth it! You can go one day without knowing what your best friend from high school had for dinner last night. I promise.

Get Your Worship On

One of my favorite tools for fighting overwhelm and discouragement is worshipping Yahweh with music. Praise and worship music has a way dispelling even the best pity party. If you are feeling frazzled and as though rest will always be elusive, put on some “God tunes,” raise your hands, and worship the One True God with everything you’ve got. Centering your worship on the Creator instead of your worries can help you focus on what’s important.

Can a Mom Practice Sabbath Rest: Ask For Help

Asking for help can be difficult for moms. Ask me how I know. I want to do everything myself. But I learned that my refusal of help was actually an ugly display of pride brewing in my heart. Ouch. Every day I am striving to be more intentional about asking for help. Yahweh designed His people to live in community, not isolation. He created us to be community-sufficient for many reasons, but one is so that we can carry each other’s burdens and lighten one another’s loads. If you have access to someone who is willing to lend a helping hand, accept it with a grateful heart.

Freezer Meals, Instant Pots, and Slow Cookers

Can a mom practice Sabbath rest? Yes, especially when you make your appliances work for you! We all know that the Bible says that “Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man.” (Mark 2:27). But do you know what was made for the Sabbath: Slow cookers. Instant Pots. Freezer meals. Take advantage of these wonderful inventions, my friend. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel on the Sabbath Day. You don’t need to cook Great Granny Gertrude’s 25-ingredient, 32-step casserole dish. Your family’s favorite Crock Pot spaghetti served up on a paper plate works just fine.

Can a Mom Practice Sabbath Rest: Know Yourself

One of the most interesting things that I’ve learned about Sabbath rest for moms is that we all “rest” in different ways. Here’s what I mean: some of us are introverts and some extroverts. Introverts are recharged by spending time alone and extroverts feel energized by spending time being surrounded by people. It’s not that introverts don’t like people, it’s just that they need to spend time with the right people. Just one or two likeminded folks with whom they can share meaningful conversation. Not sure if you’re an introvert or an extrovert? Take the quiz found HERE to find out.

So what does being and introverted mom or an extroverted mom have to do with Sabbath rest? Everything. Being surrounded by lots of people and not having conversations that feel genuine and life-giving can quickly drain an introvert. And an extrovert who doesn’t get a heaping helping of being around people won’t get the recharge they need. Therefore, examine yourself and learn what recharges you. Then do your best to have those needs met. This is often easier said than done, but even the smallest acts to fill up your introvert/extrovert tank can do wonders.

Sabbath Day Rest for Moms: A Gift and a Delight

As moms, whether we truly rest on the Sabbath Day is a choice. Children still need to be tended to, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t find Yahweh’s glory in the nooks and crannies of our day. Expectations must not be lowered, just realigned with reality. The Sabbath Day was made for all of Yahweh’s creation, and that includes mamas. I pray that you will take the ideas and tips shared here to heart. May God’s peace settle over you. May you find rest in Him.