“On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”
Exodus 16:22-23
Read Exodus 16:22–30
Tuesday, October 20th, 2026
Devotional written by Sam Rosenblad, Associate Care Pastor
THE COURAGE TO STOP
Something happens when we get caught up in trying to reach the next goal, hit the next number, or get to that place in life where we feel we need to be. We become so focused on what needs to be done that we lose sight of all that God has already done. And somewhere along the way, we can begin to adopt an identity that says, “I’m my own provider. If I don’t make this happen, nobody will.”
I think this is one reason rest can be so difficult for many of us. We feel as though everything depends on our ability to keep moving, working, and staying on top of every responsibility. If we stop, even for a moment, we’re afraid something important might slip through the cracks. But what if our inability to rest reveals something deeper about where we’ve placed our trust?
In Exodus 16, we see the Israelites learning a lesson about God’s provision. Each morning, God provided manna for His people to gather and eat. On the sixth day, He provided twice as much and instructed them to save enough for the next day. God was establishing a rhythm of work and rest and had already made provision for their needs.
Yet despite God’s instructions, some of the Israelites still went out on the seventh day in search of manna, only to find none. I wonder how often we do the same. God has demonstrated His faithfulness to us time and again, yet we still look for ways to secure our futures through our own efforts, as though everything rests squarely on our shoulders.
What strikes me about this passage is that God wasn’t merely commanding His people to stop working. He was teaching them to trust Him. They still had responsibilities and needed to gather and prepare what God had provided. Yet ultimately, their security wasn’t found in their ability to gather more manna. It was found in the God who provided it.
The same is true for us. Rest doesn’t mean abandoning our responsibilities or pretending our needs don’t exist. It means recognizing that, while we’re called to work faithfully, we were never meant to bear the weight of providing for ourselves. Although we may not always understand how God will provide, we can trust His character and remember His faithfulness.
Sometimes, one of the greatest acts of faith isn’t found in what we’re willing to do for God, but in our willingness to stop and trust Him with what remains undone.
Reflection: What responsibility, worry, or goal makes it hard for you to rest? Take a moment to recall how God has been faithful to you in the past, and ask Him to help you trust Him with what feels beyond your control.