When Work Feels Like Egypt: Rediscovering the Freedom of Rest

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“How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” (Galatians 4:9 NIV).

I once had a job that I could only describe as a nightmare. And even though I hated it, I gave it all I had. After all, they were paying me, right? And I wanted to do it well. So, there I was, in early and out late every day. I gave that job some of the best years of my life, and if it hadn’t been for God’s mercy, I would have given it more.

Had I another chance, I would only have lasted a couple of weeks. They simply wanted too much. It was a form of white-collar slavery designed to profit them first and me last. A co-worker would even compare the working environment to Israel’s slavery in Egypt. The higher-ups kept asking us for more and more work until we could no longer bear the burden.

That was years ago. Last week, I was tempted to put in longer weekend hours at my current job than was necessary. And what stopped me was the thought of Israel’s slavery. Did I really want to become a corporate slave all over again? “But now that you know God — or rather are known by God — how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? (Galatians 4:9 NIV).

I didn’t want to go back to my old ways again, feeling like a slave with no free will. So, I chose the freedom of rest rather than working weekend hours. I know there are times when extra work may be necessary. But if you find yourself doing that more often than not, it might be time to start taking a weekly Sabbath rest more seriously. You may even need to take more than one day off a week to get your healthy groove back on. It not only keeps your mind sharp and your body healthy but also gives you a clearer perspective on what’s important and what’s not.

Like me, you may need to keep asking God for help with your rest cycles. Knowing when to stop and rest isn’t always obvious. That’s why, whenever I begin to feel like a slave to my schedule, I ask God for help. God created the Sabbath to set us free from the bondage of slavery and to help us live a more fulfilling life.

**Prayer- **Father, please set us free from any form of slavery. You know we need to work hard, but please show us how much is too much. Convict us when it’s starting to become a form of slavery and when we may need to change our environment permanently. Set us free from wrong assumptions and unrealistic expectations. Thank you for taking care of us. Amen.