Slow Sundays: Return to Rest

Sundays aren’t just a day off—they’re a return to where my soul belongs. 

“Return to your rest, my soul. For the Lord has been good to you.” - Psalm 116:7 (NIV) 

There is something sacred about Sundays—I feel it the moment I open my eyes, like I can exhale and really relax into the day. Genesis 2:3 tells us, “Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” 

If you’re like me—a chronic over-achiever—Sundays are permission to slow down, rest and reset. Sundays aren’t just a day off—they’re a return to where my soul belongs.  

I try to begin every morning slowly and with intention. I get up, set the tone in my living room with soft ocean waves playing, put on the aromatherapy diffuser, get my coffee and snuggle on the couch with my Bible and a devotional. The time I carve out for this always feels too short—I’m always wanting to read one more verse, write one more reflection. I know that once the day begins, it gets hectic—filled with to-do lists that take over.  

But Sundays … Sundays feel set apart. There’s church to look forward to—worship, the message that usually pierces my heart and gives me something thoughtful to ponder, fellowship with other believers, and deep discussion with my family afterward. I love Sundays. And for a short time, I had to work on Sundays, and quickly realized how that left me with no means to refill my tank. No matter how much we could use the money, it simply wasn’t worth my peace. Sundays were irreplaceable. I had to protect that time to rest and reset at all costs.  

On Sundays, I let the striving, planning, and rushing pause. It’s a chance to slow down, tune in and reconnect—to return to my center point with Jesus. And just like my slow mornings, Sundays are intentional. Sunday is where God recalibrates me—where I rest in Him, reset my focus and replenish my spirit.  

I love the rhythm of Sunday. I’m an early riser by nature, and grateful that my husband and son are on board with going to the early service. It’s the best way to begin my day. After that, it’s brunch and conversation, and the rest of the day unfolds slowly. We relax, reflect, read, prepare meals, take a drive, call relatives to reconnect, and get things set up for the coming week without any pressure. There’s usually worship music playing in the background—I made a playlist called “Sundays,” our phones are set to “do not disturb,” and I purposely refuse to do any kind of “work” on Sundays. (Okay, sometimes I do a load of laundry, but that’s it!) 

I’ve come to really crave the rhythm of Sunday—the space to slow down and reconnect, and just be with Him.  What does Sunday look like for you? How do you return to rest?