It's not a surprise that a college winter quarter can be stressful: the overall darker weather can rob us of sunlight, affecting and disrupting our mood; winter quarter is a week shorter at Western Washington University, making coursework feel faster paced and slightly more crammed together than usual.

But the affects of winter quarter can wrongfully entice students to burrow into "the grind" of day-in-day-out schoolwork, leaving no room for anything but a self-destructive work cycle.

But we have to remember: this is not how we as human beings were designed to work! God, our creator, takes a period of rest after his time forming and creating humans and their surroundings as described from the first story of Genesis: "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made" (Genesis 2:2, KJV).

Now, forgetting about the overblown (and I would argue, unnecessary) creationism vs evolution debate, I want to call my fellow students to a previous verse in this story, Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (KJV). Here, we learn that human beings are created as image-bearers of God.

Winter quarter can be a season of our lives as students where we are stressing to get so much work done in so little time. But as we reflect God's image, we must seek to reflect how He worked, too! Through the accounts written of Jesus (God who came to Earth in the form of a man), we learn that Jesus Himself practiced the Sabbath.

Among the debate of whether we as followers of Jesus are obligated to participate in keeping the Sabbath, I believe we need that day of Holy rest! Even from a secular standpoint, we need a periodic day off for simply our own benefit. When we recognize that observing the Sabbath is a part of our rhythm, we can begin to use that day of restoration to benefit us and our relationship with God and others, rather than feeling that the Sabbath controls or restricts us.

From personal experience: this past fall quarter I chose to observe a day of rest on either a Saturday or Sunday. I would do no schoolwork, nor would I do next to any work for the college ministry I am a part of at WWU. It truly brought me help in keeping a disciplined routine, having a well-rested and restored body and mind, and gave me extra time and space to seek God.

If you as a college student want to truly thrive this winter quarter, amidst all the stress and attacks on your mental health, please consider using the Sabbath day: by using a day of the week to remove ourselves from the trappings of losing ourselves in schoolwork and other duties, you will find time to recharge, whether that be giving your body extra sleep; cooking a healthy, fulfilling meal; taking a prayer walk through campus; or, most importantly, spending quiet time with God through prayer, journaling, or even hiking to observe His beautiful creation!

Choose to allow God to bring you restoration and peace this winter quarter; allow yourself to diligently use the Sabbath day to find rest and pursue God. I promise you: you will never regret seeking Him!