Week 48: November 23-29, 2025 -Take Time Off from Your Works
This week’s daily readings:
November 23-29, 2025
This week’s devotional:
Take Time Off from Your Works
by Sue Hersey
Scripture:
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
But you were unwilling,
— Isaiah 30:15 (ESV)
Reflection:
This message comes to you on Thanksgiving week—a time when most working folks have a day or two off from work. Maybe you are required to spend this time straight out in dinner preparation and service, cleaning up afterward, and maybe even playing host for holiday company. Most of us, however, find at least a little time during this holiday to rest, relax, and savor the occasion with those we love.
While we’re enjoying this holiday, it is important to take some time to strengthen our fellowship with God as well as to find rest—that is rest from our own efforts—by letting God do the work. Of course, we are all very capable people, so it takes tremendous faith to “rest in God.” It takes the same kind of faith that enabled David to slay Goliath and Joshua to conquer the Promised Land. Certainly, it was not through their own works that they accomplished those feats!
Admittedly, our burdens are nothing like trying to take down a marauding giant or capture a walled city. However, it is possible to “take time off from our works” as we grow in faith. Up front, we need to invest some time seeking God’s promises in our Bible reading. Many of them can be found in the Gospels. In answer to all our worries, God promises to provide whatever we need (see Matthew 6:25-27). Jesus himself promises salvation to us if we simply believe in him (see John 3:16). If believing poses a problem, we can always pray for God to help us in our unbelief (see Mark 9:24). If we’re feeling overworked, Jesus said (in Matthew 11:29), “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me… and you will find rest for your souls.”
We can rest from our anxieties knowing that God will take care of things on our behalf. Hebrews 4:9-10 says: “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” So, taking a break and resting from our works is really a reflection of what God did when he finished creating this world. Be sure not to harden your heart with disbelief like the Israelites did in the wilderness. They were denied rest due to their lack of faith. To enter into God’s rest, we truly need to believe that he’s got this!
What does resting in God’s promises free us to do? Many believers can attest to experiencing positive changes in their lives, finding new meaning in God’s word, and committing to serve the Lord and his Church when they learned to lean on God. In this kind of service, we need not feel like we are in bondage. If we trust and obey God’s calling for each of us, then service doesn’t seem so hard because we’re letting God do the work! It’s an exercise in letting go with peaceful rest as the reward. Be willing to give that a try.
Prayer:
Loving and generous Father, help us to set our eyes on the many blessings of resting in you. What peace there is in turning to you; what strength there is in trusting you! Help us to believe in your faithful goodness and mercy. Strengthen our faith in you and in our salvation in Jesus Christ, removing any worry or doubt. Holy Spirit, show us the abiding peace that comes with resting in you. And lead us to know how we can use the strength we have in you to serve your Church. Make us willing to do all this, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen