Homeschool Prayer Challenge Week 34: Purposeful Rest

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We’re 34 weeks into our series of praying for our homeschools – I’m so thankful you are joining me! You can learn more about the series here. We’ll pray about a new area of our homeschool journey each week and dig into God’s Word with daily devotional reflections.

Back in Week 20, we prayed about slowing down to enjoy our homeschool time and to recognize how God is working in our lives. This week, I’ve been reflecting on something closely related: the need—and God’s intention—for us to truly REST.

Why Rest Matters

As I’m writing this, this week is a special one in our house—my three older kids all share the same birthday! (And only two of them are twins—that’s a story for another time!)

Because it’s such a big week, I’ve been working diligently to prep everything ahead of time: homeschool lessons, work tasks, and household responsibilities. My goal is to have zero work to do on their birthday weekend so I can simply rest and enjoy the day with them.

That preparation made me wonder—why don’t I do this every week? It’s certainly possible, and the benefits are clear, but I often don’t prioritize it and let my to-do list drag into the weekend (often stressing me out way too much).

In our homeschool, we recently studied the Sabbath, and it has been eye-opening. Rest isn’t just a luxury or something we do when we’re too exhausted to continue—it’s a divine gift. God gave us the Sabbath as a reminder that our worth and identity aren’t tied to productivity. It’s a time set apart to delight in Him and to trust that even when we stop working, He is still in control.

How to Create Space for Rest

This week, I want to challenge both you and me: let’s finish all our work before the weekend so we can truly rest and enjoy time with the Lord and our families. And when I say rest, I don’t just mean physical rest, but also resting in the Lord—taking time to reflect on His goodness, recharge spiritually, and experience the peace only He can give.

Here are a few practical ways to put this into practice in our homeschool lives:

• Plan Ahead – Just like I’ve been preparing for my kids’ birthday, we can intentionally aim to finish essential tasks before the weekend. This might mean scheduling time during the week for things that usually spill over, like grading, lesson planning, or catching up on household chores.
• Set Boundaries – It’s easy to let homeschooling bleed into every day. I struggle with this, especially working from home. But designating certain times or days as “no work” zones can protect our rest. Sometimes this means saying no to extra activities or being okay with leaving a few things undone.
• Teach Your Kids the Value of Rest – As homeschooling moms, we have the privilege of modeling what rest looks like. This could be as simple as a family quiet time—no screens, no noise, just reading or enjoying each other’s company. Or, it could mean studying the Sabbath more deeply together. We’ve been using the book Celebrating Biblical Feasts this year, and the section on the Sabbath has been wonderful.
• Use Rest to Recharge Spiritually – Rest isn’t just about naps (though those are nice!). It’s about prayer, Scripture, and meeting with God. Rest becomes a time not just to recover but to reconnect with Him and find renewed strength.

God doesn’t ask us to be perfect; He asks us to be faithful. And part of faithfulness is trusting Him enough to rest, even when it feels like there’s more to do.

A Prayer for This Week

Heavenly Father,

Homeschooling can take a lot out of me. There is so much to do each week, and I don’t take lightly the calling of teaching and training my kids. It’s so easy to let my to-do list take control, and I’m sorry for at times letting the idol of busy-ness take up space in my heart rather than trusting in what You would have me to do.

Thank you for the gift of work and also of rest. Help me to trust your perfect plan for us and show me how to rest in You. When I feel the call of business, let that be a reminder to meet with you and experience rest in your arms.

I know that things may never feel finished, but You have provided for all of our needs and You are enough. Help me to stay focused, productive, and content in the tasks that are necessary for our homeschool this week, so that it becomes easier to set boundaries and make time for peace and rest.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

Join the Challenge

Finally, if you want to join in on the challenge from the very beginning, make sure to sign up below, and you’ll receive a printable prayer and journal pages each week, right to your inbox. Join in any time, and you’ll start the following Monday with Week #1!

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