Gathering Manna: When Rest Requires Trust in God’s Provision| The Sunday Sabbath #7
“This is what the LORD commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the LORD... Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.’ Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none.” — Exodus 16:23, 26-27 (BSB)
Dear friend,
A few months ago, I found myself in one of those seasons where everything seemed to need more attention at once. My family needed me to be more present. Our local ministry work in the apartment community was picking up in beautiful, demanding ways. My children needed their mama fully engaged, not distracted by the mental load of content calendars and launch plans.
And underneath all of it? A quiet panic.
What if I step back from Soft Sacred Slow and people forget this ministry exists? What if I don’t show up consistently and lose the momentum I’ve been building? What if rest means everything I’ve worked for falls apart?
Maybe you know this fear. The one that whispers that if you’re not constantly present, constantly producing, constantly available—everything will disappear.
It’s the same fear that sent the Israelites out on the seventh day to gather manna, even after God explicitly told them there wouldn’t be any.
The Manna Principle
Let’s set the scene: The Israelites are in the wilderness, freshly freed from Egypt, but terrified they’ll starve. God responds by providing manna—bread from heaven that appears each morning like dew on the ground.
But it comes with specific instructions.
Gather what you need for today. Don’t try to hoard it for tomorrow—it will rot. On the sixth day, gather double because on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there won’t be any manna on the ground. Rest on the seventh day and trust that the provision you gathered on day six will sustain you.
Simple, right?
Except some people didn’t trust it. Despite God’s clear command, despite seeing the pattern for six days straight, some went out on the seventh day to gather anyway.
And found nothing.
Here’s what breaks my heart about this story: they went out because they were afraid. They didn’t trust that rest was truly safe. They couldn’t believe that God’s provision would actually sustain them if they stopped working, even for a day.
When Rest Feels Like Risk
I see myself in those Israelites who went out on the Sabbath morning, basket in hand, scanning the ground for manna that wasn’t there.
How many times have I “just quickly checked” my Substack analytics on Sunday? How many times have I told myself I was “just brainstorming ideas” when really I was anxious that if I fully rested, my ministry would stall? How many times have I treated Sabbath like a luxury I could afford once everything else was secure—which, of course, it never is?
For those of us building creative ministries, platforms, and businesses, rest can feel terrifying. We’ve been conditioned to believe that success requires constant visibility, consistent content, and relentless hustle. We watch others who seem to be everywhere all the time, and we wonder if taking a day off—or a season off—means we’ll be forgotten.
But here’s what the manna story teaches us: God’s provision doesn’t depend on our constant striving. It depends on His faithfulness.
The Israelites had to learn that God could be trusted to provide what they needed when they needed it. That His commands to rest weren’t tests to see if they’d fail, but invitations to trust that He would sustain them even when they weren’t working.
The Truth About God’s Provision
When I’m tempted to skip rest because I’m afraid my ministry will suffer, I have to come back to this truth: if Soft Sacred Slow is truly God’s calling on my life, then He is the one who sustains it. Not my constant presence. Not my perfect consistency. Not my anxious striving.
Yes, I’m called to be faithful. Yes, I’m called to steward this ministry well. But faithfulness includes rest. Stewardship includes Sabbath. And trust means believing that when I step away because my family needs me, or my body needs recovery, or a season demands something different—God doesn’t abandon what He started.
The Israelites learned this lesson the hard way. Those who went out on the seventh day found no manna because God had already provided what they needed. The double portion from day six was enough. They didn’t need to hustle on the Sabbath because the provision was already in place.
Friend, what if the same is true for us?
What if when we take actual Sabbath rest—not “rest” where we’re still mentally planning content or checking metrics, but real, unplugged, present rest—God’s provision doesn’t run out? What if the work we did in our six days is enough? What if our ministries don’t collapse when we choose to fully trust God with them for a day, or a week, or a season?
Rest as Radical Trust
Here’s what I’m learning: every time I choose rest over striving, I’m making a theological statement. I’m declaring that God is faithful. That my creative ministry isn’t ultimately built on my efforts but on His calling. That abundance isn’t found in gathering more and more, but in trusting that what He provides is enough.
This doesn’t mean we’re careless or lazy. The Israelites still had to gather manna six days a week. We still show up faithfully to our callings, create with intention, and steward our platforms with excellence.
But it means we don’t keep gathering on the seventh day out of fear. It means when our bodies are exhausted, we rest. When our families need more of us, we step back without guilt. When a season requires us to slow down, we trust that God isn’t going to let everything we’ve built fall apart just because we’re not constantly performing.
The manna principle is this: God provides what we need, when we need it, in the rhythm He designed. Our job isn’t to override that rhythm with anxiety-driven productivity. Our job is to trust Him enough to rest.
An Invitation for This Week
This week, I want to invite you to practice the manna principle in one specific area of your life.
Maybe it’s taking an actual, full Sabbath where you don’t check your platform analytics or your email. Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to scale back your content schedule because this season is demanding more of your presence elsewhere. Maybe it’s saying no to an opportunity because you recognize your basket is already full from the “gathering” you’ve done this week, and more isn’t what you need right now.
Whatever it looks like for you, I want you to practice resting and trusting that God’s provision will sustain you—even when you’re not hustling.
Pay attention to what happens. Notice the fears that come up. Notice what God provides. Notice whether the things you were afraid would fall apart actually do, or whether they’re held together by Someone much bigger than your constant effort.
Reflection Questions
1. Where am I “gathering manna on the Sabbath” out of fear that if I rest, everything will fall apart?
Be honest with yourself. Is there an area of your creative work or ministry where you can’t fully rest because you’re afraid God’s provision won’t be enough without your constant effort?
2. What would it look like to trust God enough to fully rest this week—even if it means stepping back from something that feels important?
Get specific. What’s one thing you could release this week as an act of trust in God’s provision? What fears would you need to surrender to actually do it?
3. How might God be inviting me to redefine “faithfulness” to include rest rather than seeing rest as the opposite of faithfulness?
Sometimes our definition of being a “faithful” creator or minister has been shaped more by hustle culture than by God’s design. What would change if you believed that resting was just as faithful as producing?
A Prayer for Trust
Faithful Provider,
You know how hard it is for me to rest. You see the fear that drives me to keep gathering even on the seventh day, convinced that if I stop, everything will fall apart.
Forgive me for believing that my ministry depends more on my hustle than on Your faithfulness. Forgive me for treating rest as a luxury I can’t afford instead of a command You’ve given for my good. Forgive me for trusting my own efforts more than I trust Your provision.
Teach me the manna principle. Help me gather what I need in my working days, and then help me stop. Help me rest without guilt, step back without fear, and trust that You will sustain what You’ve called me to build.
When I’m tempted to check my platform on the Sabbath, remind me that You’re the one who holds it. When I’m afraid that pulling back for a season means losing everything, remind me that You are Provider, not me. When I feel guilty for resting while others seem to be hustling, remind me that Your design includes rhythm, not relentless striving.
Let this week be one where I practice trusting You enough to truly rest. And in that rest, let me discover that Your provision is more than sufficient—even when I’m not constantly performing.
Amen.
The Story Sanctuary
Welcome to The Story Sanctuary! This is where I share all things books—my latest releases, stories I’m loving, and recommendations from fellow authors whose work inspires me. Think of this as our cozy corner where stories and Sabbath rest intersect, and reading is always an act of soul care.
This week, I’m excited to team up with other indie authors to help collectively promote our books! I’m part of a wonderful group promotion featuring clean and sweet romances—including my own Blue Stone Christmas—and I wanted to share it with you.
Love in Full Bloom Group Promo ⭐
This is the promotion I’m most excited to share with you! This collection features sweet and clean romances, and here’s the best part—all of these books are available in Kindle Unlimited. That means if you’re a KU subscriber, you can discover new-to-you authors without having to purchase each book individually. It’s the perfect opportunity to expand your TBR (to-be-read) pile without breaking the budget!
Blue Stone Christmas is part of this collection, and I’d love for you to discover some of the other wonderful authors featured here. While I always encourage you to read book descriptions to ensure a story matches your preferences, this bundle should feature sweet and clean content throughout.
This promotion runs through January 13, 2026.
May you gather what you need this week with faithfulness, dear friend. And may you rest with confidence, knowing that God’s provision doesn’t run out just because you’ve stopped striving.
Your ministry is held by Him. Your creative work is sustained by His calling, not your constant hustle. And rest isn’t the opposite of faithfulness—it’s the evidence of trust.
You are held. You are provided for. And you have permission to rest.
With grace and joy,
Antonisha
P.S. — I’d love to hear how you’re practicing the manna principle this week. What are you choosing to trust God with so you can truly rest? Reply to this email or leave a comment—your story might be exactly what another weary creative needs to hear.
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