Happy Sabbath ,
This week I’ve been thinking about something fascinating. Actually, for some time now, as Sabbath has been on my mind a lot.
Many of the symptoms you may struggle with today — fatigue, cravings, anxiety, poor sleep, stubborn weight — often trace back to one hormone system being constantly activated: cortisol, our stress
hormone.
When cortisol stays elevated for too long, it disrupts many other hormones in the body — including insulin, thyroid hormones, and reproductive hormones.
But here’s the interesting thing.
Long before science discovered cortisol, God gave us a rhythm designed to protect our bodies from chronic stress.
The Sabbath.
A day set apart for rest, reflection, and restoration. (And fellowship, challah
bread, and just a time to relax)
Researchers today discovered that regular rest lowers stress hormones, supports brain health, improves metabolism, and restores emotional balance. The practice of the Sabbath may be one of the most powerful ways to reset our nervous system.
And yet it is a common struggle to truly rest. Even my schedule rarely has natural rest built in. I have to set my body and tell it - let’s timeout and rest.
We push
through fatigue.
We stay mentally “on.”
We carry stress into every day of the week.
Sometimes the result shows up in our bodies.
Maybe you’ve noticed things like:
• feeling tired but wired
• cravings hard to control
• sleep that doesn’t feel restorative
• digestion feels off
• mood swings or anxiety
These are often signals that our bodies need rest and
regulation.
The good news is that our hormones are incredibly responsive. Every small change in nutrition, stress patterns, sleep, and beliefs can begin restoring balance.
