Rest sounds simple, but for many high-capacity women it feels uncomfortable, unproductive, or even irresponsible.

In this episode, Nicole Ghirardi and Stephanie Petry talk about Sabbath, why rest is part of God’s design, and why so many of us struggle to slow down. They discuss how our culture teaches us how to push through but not how to recover, and why true rest is essential for protecting your capacity and sustaining long-term growth.

This episode challenges the idea that rest must be earned and instead reframes rest as stewardship, leadership, and preparation for what matters most.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear

Why rest often feels uncomfortable
How productivity can become tied to identity
What happens when we avoid rest too long
How burnout becomes normalized
What Sabbath actually means beyond “doing nothing”
How rest improves clarity and decision making
Simple ways to start building Sabbath rhythms
Why rest is part of faithful stewardship

Key Takeaways From This Episode

Rest challenges how we measure our value
Many people measure their worth by what they produce instead of how they steward themselves.

Avoiding rest leads to burnout cycles
Constant exhaustion, decision fatigue, irritability, and loss of focus are often signs of missing recovery.

Sabbath is more than stopping work
True rest involves delight, physical rest, emotional restoration, and trust.

Rest is stewardship of your capacity
Protecting your energy and managing recovery allows sustainable growth instead of burnout-driven hustle.

Rest is leadership
Managing when to push and when to recover allows you to operate proactively instead of reactively.

What Sabbath Really Means

Sabbath is not just about stopping work. It is about:

Delight – Enjoying God and the life He has given you
Rest – Physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery
Trust – Believing everything will not fall apart if you pause

When practiced consistently, Sabbath reshapes how you live the other six days of the week.

Practical Ways to Start Practicing Rest

Schedule margin instead of filling every open space

Protect one slower day or recovery block each week

Reduce constant inputs:

• Limit notifications
• Reduce screen time
• Step away from information overload

Build small recovery habits:

• Quiet mornings
• Journaling
• Prayer time
• Weekly reflection
• Celebrating small wins

Faith Layer

Exodus 20:8
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Sabbath sits in the center of the Ten Commandments, reminding us that how we relate to God shapes how we live in every other area of life.

Resources Mentioned

Sabbath as Resistance – Walter Brueggemann

ROOTS Morning Journal
https://www.groundedgrowth.org/store

Weekly Reset Guide
https://www.groundedgrowth.org/WeeklyReset

Grounded Growth Community
https://www.facebook.com/groups/groundedgrowthcommunity

Learn more about Grounded Growth
https://www.groundedgrowth.org

Final Encouragement

Rest is not laziness.
Rest is preparation.

You were not designed to live in survival mode. You were designed to live with rhythms of work and recovery.

Start small. Protect one block of time. Practice one boundary. Build one rhythm.

Because sustainable growth requires sustainable rest.

Stay grounded and keep growing.

Follow along and stay connected:
Website: www.groundedgrowth.org
Instagram: @GroundedGrowthMO
Facebook: Grounded Growth Community