Five Ways to Have a More Peaceful Sabbath

Shabbat shalom is translated as a wish for a peaceful Sabbath day. How can you do that? While peace in general comes from repentance and living in YHWH's love and mercy (I love Colossians 3:15 to let the peace of YHWH rule our hearts!), and finding healing for our emotional hurts and baggage, today we are talking about a special kind of peace on the Sabbath. There is an art to resting on the Sabbath, and it requires us to do things a little differently than the rest of the week. While the world around us doesn't stop, we are commanded to take a holy pause in the busyness of life. Sometimes even when we have the day off it can be easy to get swept back into the rush of things. Here are five simple ways to avoid that and to have a more peaceful Sabbath day.

Five Ways to Have a More Peaceful Sabbath:

1. Leave the mail in the box. You know what is not restful? I'd say going through the mail, opening up bills, sorting out junk mail, getting notices that you need to schedule a dentist appointment, etc. Almost every time I open up the mail it gives me something to do. Let the mail stay in the box for an extra day so that this doesn't interfere with your Sabbath peace. The same goes for email.

2.  Switch off the wifi. I probably don't need to tell you that most people are addicted to their smart phone. Picking up the phone to check the time can all too easily lead into scrolling away the next twenty minutes (or more!) of the precious day of rest. And what does browsing social media add to your life or day? Possibly frustration with someone, probably comparison of yourself to others, and maybe a to-do list of cute projects. I think the Sabbath was intended to be more restful and joyful than what our phones can offer. Switching off the phone entirely might not be a reasonable option for you, but not having wifi on can be good incentive to stay off of your phone, and be present where you are. Some doctors believe that turning off the wifi can be more restful and healthful for your body as well.

3. Find a peaceful place. By no means does the house need to be perfect in order for you rest on the Sabbath, but if resting in the midst of a mess is hard, consider where you'll spend the day. That could mean making it a point to stay out of the messy kitchen, or hanging out in the seldom-used guestroom. Spend time on the patio or relax with a hot bath. If it's nice out you could spend the Sabbath day at the lake, a nearby playground, or a park.

4. Don't cook. While I normally have a solid plan in place for Sabbath lunch, can I just say that I haven't had a dinner plan for Saturday night ever? I try to cook enough throughout the week to have leftovers and I make it a point to stock easy snacks, as I shared in this post. And while it doesn't usually make for an Instagram worthy meal it works out just fine. We eat leftovers or something that takes five minutes or less to put together (like quesadillas or salad), and it's not a hassle. There's no need to spend your Sabbath in the kitchen or to overwork yourself beforehand with making an elaborate meal. Simple foods really work out.

5. Make a list. Snuggled up on the couch, I'm cozy under a blanket and have a cup of tea ready to enjoy. I have read three verses of Scripture and then I remember something to do. I find myself rereading the same passages as I'm distracted by thoughts like: I need to order a gift for the baby shower. I should make enchiladas for dinner this week. Oh yeah, I need to return that library book. Maybe you've been there, where you are kept from engaging in rest on the Sabbath because it's hard to switch off the to-do list. Keep a pen and paper nearby, and when one of those things comes up you can write it down and be done with it. I know this doesn't sound like it should work but it really does! Once you've written it down you know that you'll remember it, so your brain isn't focused on reminding you of what you need to do. Go back to your book now!

Other ideas for Sabbath rest:
Five Ways to Honor Shabbat
20 Tips to Simplify Shabbat Prep
Encouragement for the New Shabbat Keeper
Five Things I Love About the Sabbath

Get Outside this Shabbat

This article was also featured in Torah Sisters Magazine. Click here for the latest issue.

Are you looking for ways to make family memories this Summer? Or just wanting a peaceful way to spend the Sabbath day? Think about taking your lunch routine outside this Shabbat and soaking up that warm, and gorgeous sunshine! Personally I have a lot of happy memories of outdoor family meals and cookouts with friends. The change from the ordinary makes for a special time, and most people seem to be better able to relax outside. There is more room for play and the atmosphere is laid back. It's so restorative to be in the fresh air - doesn't enjoying a meal outdoors sound especially welcome for Shabbat? Additionally less cleanup is needed, because the grass is a lot more forgiving with spills than your kitchen floor. And the extra vitamin D from the sunshine brings health benefits, so head outside for some Sabbath joy this week.

Dining outside can be as simple as you'd like. It absolutely does not have to be a lot of hassle. A blanket on the ground and finger food is all you need for a fun time! You can enjoy your own backyard or head to a local park or beach area. Keep it simple and your family can have a great time. A few things to make it easy:

-If you're eating out on the patio have each family member carry their own place setting outside.
-For picnics away from home load everything into a basket to minimize trips to and from the car.
-Pack up dishes, silverware, napkins, and non perishables ahead of time so it's ready to go for Sabbath lunch.
-Pretty up your setting with a colorful tablecloth or blanket, or use patterned napkins or dishes.
-A statement piece like a bouquet of flowers or a menorah makes for an extra special atmosphere.
-Many parks offer picnic tables, shelter areas, drinking fountains, and playground equipment that you can take advantage of.
-Grab some throw pillows from your home to make it more comfortable.
-Mix it up by visiting different locations or even a different part of your local park.

If you're concerned about bugs there are several things you can do to set yourself up for success. Many pesky insects tend to stick to the twilight hours or prefer the shade. By heading out earlier in the day and staying in the sunlight that will keep a lot at bay. Very rarely do I have bug trouble around lunch, so that's a perfect time to get outside. Breeze works in your favor too and can really keep the bugs off. If you're at home you could easily set up a fan to mimic that effect. Plants like citronella, lavender, ageratum, rosemary, lemongrass, mint, and marigolds help to repel unwanted insects, so plant some where you like to spend time at home. Keep food (especially sweets) covered so ants and bees don't feel invited to help themselves. Of course don't forget to stick some natural insect repellant in your picnic basket, and when all else fails try a new location!

Since the Creator first placed mankind in a garden I don't think it's a coincidence that feelings of joy, peace, and contentment come from being in his Creation. Whether you have a picnic lunch, read Scripture in a hammock, go for a swim in the lake, or take a walk in the woods, take a moment to appreciate his amazing handiwork. Yahusha tells us that we should, "consider the lily." (Matthew 6:28) Depth and richness are added to us by seeing wildflowers grow. By getting outside and just noticing the things YHWH made we get to know him better. Now doesn't that sound like a perfect lunch?

Sabbath Friendly Oatmeal

Is making food ahead of time for the Sabbath stressful to you? You are definitely not alone, many people have expressed feeling overwhelmed attempting to do so much ahead of time in order to be able to rest from cooking duties on the Sabbath day. This easy, real food recipe is to the rescue! Here is a super simple recipe for a wholesome breakfast or snack that requires zero prep work ahead of time. Once again: zero prep work. Made with pantry staples, you're just some hot water away from a tasty breakfast or comforting snack.

Note: I know not everyone is comfortable with switching on the stove on the Sabbath, so if that's you please disregard this recipe and see this post for meals you can make ahead of time. I will also say that this requires no more effort than flipping a light switch, dirties only the bowl you eat it in, and has no risk of scorching to the pan. Any day of the week those are all wins to me!

Here's what you need:
1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
1/4 cup flaked, dried coconut
2 tablespoons almonds
1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup hot water
2 tablespoons chocolate chips

Turn your teakettle on to heat your water. While that's heating up, combine all of your ingredients except the chocolate chips in a bowl. When your water boils (or is close) pour about a half cup over the mixture, being careful to wet all the oatmeal. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and let sit 1-2 minutes before eating.

And that's it! It's a very simple recipe that you can obviously customize to your liking...oatmeal with dried apricots, pistachios, cinnamon, and honey is another of my favorite combinations. This makes a filling breakfast or a nice snack if you are craving something sweet, maybe even with some extra chocolate? You could also mix your ingredients ahead of time and just shake out about 3/4 of a cup into your bowl when you want to make this. Super easy either way!

*One more thing, no you do not need to use instant oatmeal. I have used old-fashioned oats from Aldi, Meijer, and Whole Foods and they all have worked well in this recipe. I find them to be cooked to my liking, and I think the texture is better in this recipe if you old-fashioned oats. If your oats are a bit thicker, or you like extra soft oatmeal, try adding a little extra water and let it sit an extra minute.

Related Posts:

The No Stress Guide to Sabbath Meals

Make Ahead Salads for the Sabbath

Stocking Your Pantry For Easy Sabbath Meals
Slow Cooker Sabbath Meal Ideas

Sabbath Prep and the Idol of Cleanliness

Can we talk about 'prep day' and this notion of 'getting ready for Sabbath'? 

When I first started observing the Sabbath, I think about 90% of the related internet content consisted of cleaning checklists. Long ones too: vacuum the floors, straighten up the house, take out the trash, wash the dishes, make the beds, set the table, clean the bathrooms. And don't forget about making a fancy dinner, and then tons of food for tomorrow, empty your inbox, bathe the kids, and plan a special activity. It's not surprising that much of the Hebrew community refers to Friday as prep day, because that's how long all of this takes.

There are a few problems with this system. Firstly, Scripture does not teach that this thorough cleaning is required of us for the Sabbath day. But also, keeping Sabbath is meant for all of YHWH's children, not just the retirees and the stay-at-home-mom families. When we (unintentionally or otherwise) present to others this enormous checklist of things to do before Shabbat we are telling them that if you can't juggle in this extra load of work then they can't keep the Sabbath day. That is a tragedy! When we make the Sabbath more about having a clean house than about relationship with YHWH, it becomes an idol. May he forgive us if we make having a prep day for Shabbat a requirement, because he didn't.

Friends, I know that none of you want to place a stumbling block before others or to make Sabbath keeping seem like a burden. But can you see how this pervasive mentality of Friday as a house cleaning day can be a hindrance to those that work or have other commitments before the Sabbath? I also know that many of you feel overwhelmed with getting ready for the Sabbath each week. And honestly when I would put my effort into those checklists it did not leave me with an attitude that loved the set apart day. Why are we clinging to this tradition of near impossible standards if it causes frustration and resentment with one of YHWH's commandments? What does that do to our relationship with him, or to our spirits?

Is it nice to have a clean home? Yes...but it's not a commandment, nor is it a prerequisite to having a day of rest. A clean house is nice but it should never come before our relationship with YHWH, and it shouldn't come at the cost of discouraging others from honoring the Sabbath. It really is both possible and permissible to have a day of rest, even if you don't have a day to dedicate to preparing for it. What if you just stopped to rest on the seventh day, even if the laundry wasn't done and the beds hadn't been made? What if we showed others that Shabbat keeping is doable even if you work full-time or juggle a hundred things each week?

Yes, keeping Shabbat calls for intention. But I think most of the time spent preparing should be working to keep ourselves free of other commitments on the Sabbath, not on having an immaculate house. There is no shame in eating simple foods like sandwiches, green salads, veggies with hummus, cheese and crackers, fruit, or other snack items that don't require prep work the day before. Don't forget that in Genesis 1, YHWH himself rests on the Sabbath day. Please note, he did not spend day six cleaning up his work from the rest of the week. He just rests. Give yourself and others permission to do the same. 

More on the Sabbath:
Why I'm Still Keeping the Sabbath
Tips for Resting on the Sabbath
Sabbath in the New Testament

Things I Love About the Sabbath

When I share with someone that I keep the Sabbath (honor YHWH's set apart day by resting on the seventh day of the week), they usually feel sorry for me. It's crazy, but many people treat the day of rest like it is some sort of huge burden. If you might be feeling that way yourself, let me tell you: it is anything but a burden. You know when you're feeling overloaded and say, "I need a vacation!" or wonder when you're next day off is? For me, that is never more than six days away. Isaiah 58:13 calls the Sabbath a delight, and once you've made it your lifestyle, it is so easy to do that. While there are many difficulties and heavy loads to carry in life, having a day to rest is not one of them.

A few things I love about the Sabbath:

1. It's a break. One of my favorite things about the Sabbath is always having an upcoming break from it all. No matter how busy things are with work, family commitments, seeing friends, home improvement projects, and whatever else I'm juggling I get to look forward to taking a step back to refresh. Before I started honoring Shabbat my calendar would often become overfilled and it would be overwhelming not to have a day off in site. No worries about that now as there is time to rest each week. That is such a gift to look forward to during busy times.

2. There's time to spend in the Word. Of course I make it a point to spend time reading Scripture, listening to teaching, and praying throughout the week but sometimes that's not as much as I would like. Honoring the Sabbath means no matter what the rest of the week was like, I have a set time for spiritual refreshment. And studying on Shabbat is so nice because you don't have that rush to finish your reading on your lunch break or in the carpool line.

3. Getting to see family. Even if my husband and I are both very busy we know for sure we will get to spend time together come the Sabbath day. We have also made a tradition of lunch with my parents and grandparents, and extended family on Shabbat so we are always able to have quality time as a family and to catch up during seasons that would otherwise be too busy.

4. No money is spent. While some might view not shopping on the Sabbath as an inconvenience, our bank account appreciates having a no-spend day each week. Honoring the Sabbath means we don't go out for a meal or go shopping or make an online purchase or buy coffee. That's a financial difference that adds up. Before you say that the same amount of money gets spent on the other days of the week let me give an example of the financial savings of the Sabbath. It's not unusual for us to think of something on Friday or Shabbat that we need or would like to have, but since we aren't able to purchase it right away we often find that the desire for that item fades or an opportunity to borrow what's needed or otherwise get it for less presents itself. Patience can save you a lot!

5. The stability of this compounds. Maybe the perks of financial savings or taking a break from it all don't sound life changing, but being able to look forward to the Sabbath each week compounds in an amazing way! The first time I observed the Sabbath I didn't feel much different, but now I can see what a huge impact this has had on my life. I am less stressed, and much less easily overwhelmed. Managing my life around keeping this commandment has brought incredible peace and contentment to my life.

There are many more benefits and joys that come with Sabbath keeping. If this is a new idea to you, which one of these things could you use the most in your life right now? If you keep Shabbat, what is your favorite part?

Want to learn more about the Sabbath? Here are fifteen things Scripture says about it and five things the Messiah taught the Sabbath.

There Remains a Sabbath Rest

"So there remains a Sabbath keeping for the people of YHWH." -Hebrews 4:9 BYNV

This passage in Hebrews, written several decades after the ascension of the Messiah, has a simple reminder for us: Sabbath remains. Many translations of Scripture even say, "there remains a Sabbath keeping duty for the people of YHWH." This is something he expects us to do, honor the fourth commandment. Many people teach that if you believe in the Messiah you don't need to do this, but Scripture says otherwise. And it says otherwise, in this passage specifically, around 30 years after Yahusha left this world.

This shouldn't be viewed as a burden, but rest that is needed for the hard work of living and creating and making and doing. Earlier in the passage we are reminded that YHWH himself rested on the seventh day from all his works (Hebrews 4:4). This verse is permission to rest and breathe and relax; actually it is a commandment given to us by YHWH himself.

Sabbath keeping is for you, today. 

What is a Sabbath Day in the Bible?

What is a Sabbath day in Scripture? We know that one of the ten commandments is a directive to honor the Sabbath day by keeping it holy...but when are the Sabbath days and what do you need to do to keep them holy? This post will examine what it means to when the Bible says not to work on Sabbath days, which are sometimes referred to as "no-work days," after verses stipulating that we are not to do any work on these days.

When are the Biblical Sabbath days?
The weekly Sabbath. This is the seventh day of the week because "on the seventh day God rested." (Genesis 2:2)
The first and last days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Shavuot.
Feast of Trumpets.
Yom Kippur.
The first and last days of Tabernacles.

What is a Sabbath day supposed to be like?
These are days to rest; we should avoid ordinary work, professional or otherwise. We get ourselves into trouble when we focus on human ideas about the Sabbath...like saying that your house needs to be spotless or the toilet paper needs to be torn ahead of time or that you need to sit down to a formal dinner complete with ceremonial blessings at an exact time, because those are not commandments. If your house is clean for the Sabbath good for you, but if it isn't you are certainly not doomed to have some sort of lesser Shabbat.

Stick with the commandments: don't work. Rest.

So we should have the no-work days for the feasts off from our jobs, in addition to the weekly Sabbath. Scripture uses the phrase, "ordinary work," or "servile work," regarding what we should steer clear from on these days. This means it's not just a day off from work to do house projects or to spend in the kitchen whipping up a feast for your congregation. I think that's incredibly freeing and beautiful. We've all attended way too many special events or family get-togethers where one or two people sacrifice their day to prepare and organize the meal, while 20 other people relax in the living room. And mostly it's women who are working so hard so that their family can relax. When YHWH pulled work off the table for these days, I have no doubt he meant this as a way to get women celebrating and relaxing with everyone else. And because it's a Sabbath day and work is forbidden, no one has any expectations of being served by them and they have no guilt about keeping this command. What a lovely gift.

Not working is synonymous with not shopping. I, for one, basically always feel like shopping is a lot of work, but even if you don't the idea of a day of rest is to do just that. Rest. Not running errands to cross off the list. Not causing someone else to work on one of YHWH's no-work days. Nehemiah 13:17 calls buying and selling on these days "profaning the Sabbath." Put your wallet away and enjoy these days purchase free.

A holy convocation. 
Don't miss that in addition to resting, we are to have a holy convocation. In other words a gathering with believers to celebrate these set-apart times. You know, a party. This can be a challenge, but if possible get together with people willing to celebrate these days. If there's a time to make a drive to meet with believers, this is it! Make it happen, plan something fun. One of the meanings of convocation in Scripture is reading, so make it a point to read appropriate passages from Scripture as part of your festivities.

That's the gist of a no-work day. Pretty easy, isn't it? It's a major loss that so many have believed the lie that these days are about jumping through hoops or that it's too hard for us. What could be easier or less of a burden than a day off, spent with family and friends? When YHWH gave us these commandments he did so because they are good for us! 

Sabbath days are:
A day to rest!
Time to remember the awesomeness of YHWH.
Celebration of his set apart times.
Level ground for all. No one is stuck serving or in the kitchen on these days.
A happy change of pace from everyday chores.
Restorative.
An opportunity to spend time with others of the Hebrew faith.
Joyful!

Related posts:
Why I'm Still Keeping the Sabbath
Things NOT Required for Sabbath Rest
The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays

Summer Salads for Shabbat

Sharing some fresh inspiration for your Sabbath meals today! To me, there is nothing easier and more delicious than pulling out a fresh and satisfying salad for lunch and this is the perfect time of year for doing that. Put all those fresh veggies to use and put together a simple meal ahead of time so that you can fully rest on the Sabbath!

I think any of these would suffice for a meal, but you could definitely serve these with grilled chicken, bread, greens with vinaigrette, or the summertime staple of sliced tomatoes. Fresh fruit would make a refreshing (and easy) dessert.

Crunchy Thai Peanut Quinoa from Cookie and Kate

Summer Grain Bowls from How Sweet Eats

Crunchy Roasted Chickpea Pitas from How Sweet Eats

Mediterranean Tomato and Feta Dip from Cookie and Kate

Greek Lemon Roasted Broccoli Pasta Salad from Half Baked Harvest

Easy Lentil Taco Salad from Making Thyme for Health

Roasted Red Pepper Meze Platter from Half Baked Harvest

Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing from Well Plated

Mediterranean Avocado Chicken Salad from Half Baked Harvest

Roasted Carrot Lentil Salad from A Beautiful Plate

Wild Rice Stone Fruit Salad from A House in the Hills

Marinated Zucchini Feta Salad from How Sweet Eats

Mediterranean Three Bean Salad from Healthy Nibbles and Bits

Charred Corn and Zucchini Enchilada Pasta Salad from Half Baked Harvest

More on this topic:

The No Stress Guide to Sabbath Meals
What is Biblically Clean Eating?
Biblically Clean Tacos

How To Stop Working on Shabbat

 
So you've realized that the Sabbath is on the seventh day and that honoring it is a good idea. But...you work on Shabbat. How can you change that? It is challenging to do holy things in a culture that does otherwise. It can take time to find a way to set apart the Sabbath day. It can be hard, but not too hard. It is possible to have a work schedule that allows you to rest on the Sabbath. Here are some ideas to get there.

-Pray about it.
This is step one! If you believe that YHWH desires you to honor his Shabbat by having a day off of work, pray for guidance about the route you should take to get there. He will provide a way for you to honor his commandment.

-And then do something.
I am reminded of the story in Nehemiah 4 when those working to rebuild the wall prayed for protection and organized a watch for safety. If money is tight do you pray for YHWH to meet your needs? Of course. But do you just sit back on the couch hoping for an unexpected check to show up or do you go to work, put in overtime, delay a shopping trip, search the couch cushions for change, etc. to scrape up enough money for your bills? Faith goes with action!

-Be a great employee.
If you want your employer to accommodate your desire to rest on the Sabbath, it helps to be great at what you do. Honing your professional skill set, working hard, following directions and protocol, having a positive attitude, going the extra mile, being friendly and considerate to coworkers and clients, intentionally working towards getting better at what you do, showing up on time - these are things that companies value. If you show up at work with a poor attitude, slack off from your duties, complain and gossip why would anyone go out of their way to have you work for them? Being hard working and reliable means that your place of business will be more likely to go out of their way to keep you around.

-Talk to your boss about changing your availability. 
Your supervisor is not going to change your schedule unless you talk to them about it. It might not be the most comfortable conversation, but if honoring Shabbat is important to you then it's necessary. You don't need to give a ton of details if you don't want to. You could start the conversation with something like, "I've decided to start observing the Biblical Sabbath day which is Saturday and I'd like to talk with you about options for me to have that day off." If being direct is difficult, consider putting it in writing.

-What if your supervisor questions your sincerity?
Many people have been questioned by their employer about their beliefs, and it usually goes along the lines of, I thought you were always religious, why would this be an issue now? or It sounds like you just don't want to work Saturdays. Employers are allowed to ask some questions on your faith, and how and when you present your request will have some affect on how it is received. If the company has just announced it will no longer pay time and a half on Saturdays and that's when you say you can't work then for religious reasons...well, you can see how that would look suspicious. Otherwise, just honestly tell them that your beliefs have changed. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (they enforce the non discrimination laws) has pointed out that religious beliefs and practices do change over time, so what you've done in the past should not determine your present beliefs.

Make it a point to show the sincerity of your beliefs at other times as well. Would coworkers be surprised that you're a believer based on your workplace behavior? Is your boss able to drive by your home and see you mowing the grass on your 'day of rest'? There are countless ways you can show that your faith is important to you, which is an excellent testimony to others, and should go a long way with your workplace accommodating your desire to honor Shabbat.

-Sign up for other shifts.
When I first started observing the Sabbath day I worked for a radio station where I made promotional appearances on the weekend and in the evenings. Because our schedule of events was always different we signed up for what we could cover each week. So I stopped signing up for Saturday events but I made up for it by working more at other times. Sunday I was there. Friday morning, Wednesday night? Yep, any time that was not the Sabbath I would do. Had I just crossed Saturday events off the calendar I wouldn't have fulfilled the requirements of my job; working above and beyond the minimum for the rest of the week made it possible to get that day off though. And by making myself available so much the rest of the week I stayed on my boss' good side which didn't hurt either.

Similarly, a friend was able to get out of working at a grocery store from Friday night - Saturday night (notoriously busy times for retailers), by agreeing to work the hard-to-fill overnight shift Saturday night/Sunday morning. He had never worked thirds before, and didn't really fancy the idea of it it but it was worth it to him to have the Sabbath off.

-Find someone to switch shifts with.
Ask around to see if someone would be willing to trade shifts with you. Someone else might actually prefer the hours you are trying to give up, but you probably won't know unless you ask. You can sweeten the pot by offering to work on Christmas, Easter, etc. - covering those can help you to get off for the Biblical holidays. Be sure to clear any shift trades with your boss if necessary.

-The legal stuff.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating based on religion (as well as sex, race, color, and national origin), so it is a crime for your workplace to discriminate against you because you are a Sabbath keeper. This means that federal law requires companies to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of their employees except if doing so would create an "undue hardship" on the employer. "Undue hardship" gets defined as something beyond minimal cost or burden to the employer. Basically, how difficult would it be for your employer to change your schedule? Typically an example is that if you not working on the Sabbath would cause your employer to force someone else to come in or cause them to pay someone overtime to work for you that would be undue hardship, whereas switching shifts with a willing coworker would not. Title VII also says that your employer cannot retaliate against you for exercising your rights to religious accommodation. Obviously the water gets a little murky with the terms reasonable accommodation or undue hardship, but if you feel like you are being discriminated against consider consulting with a lawyer. There are free legal chatlines where you can ask questions, so you can get a better idea of the specifics in your situation. 

-Look for other jobs.
What if your employer is not accommodating or the nature of your job demands work on the Sabbath? Rather than throwing your hands up in the air, grab the classified section. See what's out there. Ask around. Send in your resume. Start exploring your options and you may be surprised at what comes up.

-If you're self-employed.
Obviously being self employed gives you the freedom to set your own schedule but facing a drop in business can be daunting. Be encouraged by many stories from self-employed hairstylists, photographers, etc. who have stopped working on Saturdays and have actually seen an increase in business. This might require some changes, like focusing more on family portraits and less on weddings for photographers, for example. But it is most certainly an option for entrepreneurs! As with being a great employee, being excellent at what you do and providing great customer service means customers and clients will work with your schedule.

-What about emergency workers?
In our society there are many jobs that require someone to be there 24/7. I get that. I'm glad that healthcare and help from the police is always available. Caregivers for the elderly or disabled are needed every day of the week. There is also the occasional need for things like snow clearing services, radio and news workers (during natural disasters or storm warnings, for example), and people on call to fix power and phone lines. Does that mean people in these fields have a free pass from observing the Sabbath? 

If you're in a field like this, definitely pray about what YHWH wants you to do. While emergencies come up, I don't think this means YHWH wants someone regularly missing out on his set apart day. There is a big difference between a doctor getting called in for life-saving emergency surgery or to help a woman in labor, versus scheduling a routine appointment on Shabbat. I would add that right now there are plenty of people who don't honor the Sabbath day, so it's not like people aren't available to cover your hours. I believe that as we see a shift towards more and more people honoring Shabbat there will be less of a need for many of these services. For example, if sporting events aren't on the Sabbath and factories and job sites are closed, there will be fewer injuries and hence less need for medical services.

As the priests rotated duties in the Temple, I think rotation and taking turns is absolutely essential for jobs like this. For jobs that require round the clock services or someone on call, see about rotating and taking turns so that everyone is able to honor at least some Shabbats.

-If you're interviewing for a job.
Be up front about what schedule would work for you. Don't tell a company that your availability is completely open and then expect them to accommodate you later. We have found that clarifying that you don't mind working overtime or inconvenient shifts, just not the Sabbath for religious reasons, is a good way to clarify your expectations to a would be employer.

-Get creative.
Is a job that pays less offering weekends off? Maybe downsizing your home or vehicles would make a pay decrease a feasible option. Could you start a side hustle to make up for income lost from Saturday overtime? Could one spouse pick up another job so they can afford for the other to have the Sabbath off? Is going into business for yourself a possibility?

What's been your biggest challenge in stopping work on the Sabbath day? For those of you who have been able to do so, what helped you to free up the day? What advice would you give to someone that wants to stop working on Shabbat?