A Day to Breathe

A New York City pastor was leading a fast-growing

church, counseling people, preaching multiple times a week,

and quietly falling apart. Peter Scazzaro's calendar was packed,

and his phone was never really off, and to him, every crisis in

everybody else's life felt urgent. At home, his wife, Geri,

was exhausted and resentful. She was feeling that the church got

the best of him and the family got the scraps. One day, she

told him she's not leaving the marriage, but she's quitting the

church. In a ministry world that glorifies hustle for God, why

would a pastor who's in demand start saying no, pull back from

nonstop work, and risk disappointing people just to

take a weekly day of rest?

Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I'm Bart Leger, and

today we're talking about something most of us don't feel

like we can afford. But we can't afford to live without rest. Not

just a nap or vacation someday, but a regular, God-given rhythm

of stopping. Listen to Exodus 20, 8-10. Remember to observe the

Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for

your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of

rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day, no one in your

household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and your

daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and

any foreigners living among you. When God first gave this command,

his people had just come out of slavery. In Egypt, they were

valued only for how many bricks they could make, how much they

could produce. There were no days off, and they had no margin

in their lives. There was not a single day to breathe. When God

commands Sabbath, he's not being harsh. He's actually being kind.

He's saying, you're not slaves anymore. You belong to me, and

your identity is not in what you produce. It's in who you belong

to. Sabbath is like a weekly reset button. One whole day

where your worth is not measured by your output. Fast forward to

our world today. We may not be making bricks, but the pressure

sounds familiar, doesn't it? Emails never stop. Phones buzz

all the time. There's always more to do at work, more to do

at home, and more to catch up on. If we're honest, a lot of us

live like everything depends on us. If we stop, it'll all fall

apart. That's why Sabbath still matters. Not as a legalistic

rule, but as a life-giving principle. In the New Testament,

Paul makes it clear that we're not saved by the days we keep,

and believers differ on which day they set aside. The point's

not, is it Saturday or Sunday? The point is, do you have a

regular, intentional time where you stop working, trust God, and

let your soul breathe? Sabbath does at least three things.

First, it reminds us that God is God and we're not.

away from our to-do list. Second, it teaches us we're loved apart

from our performance. On your Sabbath, God's not asking, what

did you get done? He's inviting, will you enjoy me and my gifts?

Third, it creates space for real presence. Presence with God and

with people. When we're always rushing, what we tend to do is

miss both. And this is where Peter Scazzaro's story comes

back in. His crisis forced him to face the truth. He was living

like everything depended on him. Out of desperation, he and Jerry

began practicing a true weekly Sabbath. 24 hours with no church

work, no emails, and no quick ministry calls. They worshipped,

took walks, lingered over meals, and let their souls breathe.

Over time, Sabbath became a weekly reminder that God is God

and I am not. And it was a key part of healing their marriage

and reshaping how they led. His story shows that Exodus 20 isn't

a chore from God. It's a gift, a weekly declaration that you're

loved as a son or a daughter, not just as a producer. And the

world, it keeps turning even when you rest. Now, you may not

be a pastor in New York City, but maybe your life feels just

as full. Work has its demands, and family has their needs. Even

church can feel like another list of commitments. The idea of

taking an entire day to rest might sound impossible. So, let

me encourage you to think in terms of small, honest steps.

What would it look like in your real life to set aside a regular

day or even half a day to start where you're not catching up,

but resting, worshipping, and enjoying God and the people He's

given you? It might mean turning off work email for 24 hours. It

might mean no chores after a certain time of day. It might

mean a simple meal, a walk, an unhurried conversation, or

reading Scripture without watching the clock. Here's

today's challenge. Look at your week and choose one block of

time, ideally a full day. But if that's too much, start with half

a day, where you will intentionally rest. And during

that time, decide on two things you will stop, like work emails,

errands, or just one more project. And two things you will

lean into that help you delight and draw near to God, like

worship, a walk, a nap, or a slow meal with people you love.

And then, write it down, tell your household if you need to,

and treat it as an appointment with God, a day to breathe. Lord,

you know how we tend to live as everything depends on us. Thank

you for the gift of Sabbath, for reminding us we are your

children, not your employees. Teach us to trust you enough to

stop, to rest, and to let our souls breathe. Show each person

listening what a day to breathe could look like this week. In

Jesus' name, Amen. If this episode encouraged you, would

you share it with a friend or family member who feels worn out

by a constant hustle? Just send them the link from the show

notes, and they may need this reminder today. Thanks for

joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives.

Remember, Sabbath isn't a burden. It's God's gift, a weekly

reminder that you're loved for who you are, not just for what

you do. Come back next time for more encouragement to help you

live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless, and have

a great day.