Christ With Coffee On Ice

Host: Ally Yost
Episode: When Work Is An Idol, Rest Feels Like a Sin
Date: May 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, Ally Yost explores the struggle many Christians face with rest in a world that idolizes relentless work. She discusses how cultural notions of productivity can crowd out spiritual disciplines like Sabbath and true rest, and how the love of Jesus reorients our understanding of work, worth, and restoration. Drawing from recent personal revelations—including a powerful experience watching The Passion of the Christ—Ally brings encouragement, biblical truth, and practical advice for listeners wanting to realign with God's rhythm of grace.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life Update: Embracing God-Given Identity

[07:30 – 15:45]

• Ally shares her journey of recently going back to her natural hair color as an intentional act of self-acceptance and worship.
• Connects to a past process of learning to love her makeup-free face, guided by the Holy Spirit.
• Quote:

  “Maybe that's a prayer for all of us. It's not just about our hair color, but it's like, God, the things you love about me, I also want to love about me too. So teach me how to do that.” (14:49)

2. Powerful Encounter with The Passion of the Christ

[15:45 – 44:15]

• Ally recounts finally watching The Passion of the Christ after years of delay out of fear and reverence for Jesus’ suffering.
• She details her emotional experience, describing intense grief but, surprisingly, an overflowing sense of love and renewed devotion.
• Reflects on how the depiction of Jesus’ suffering personalized the Gospel for her.
• Quote:

  “The love that I felt watching that movie was like, wow. My worship changed after watching that movie. The secret place changed for me after watching that movie. It was just so powerful to see that kind of love.” (32:25)

• Discusses production hardships faced by the cast, including actor Jim Caviezel’s physical sufferings (struck by lightning, accidental injuries), reinforcing the spiritual warfare surrounding the film.
• Key takeaway: Witnessing what Jesus went through puts life’s annoyances and worries in perspective—all that matters is Christ.
• Quote:

  “Nothing else mattered anymore after watching that movie. I was like, oh, Jesus is the only thing that matters.” (40:22)

3. The Struggle to Rest in a Culture That Values Work

[44:15 – 53:40]

• Ally candidly addresses societal messages that glorify exhaustion (“You’ll sleep when you’re dead,” “Grind until you make it”) and contrasts them with biblical rhythms.
• Recognizes her own past entanglement in work-for-worth mindsets.
• Challenges listeners to examine whether overwork is driven by comparison, fear, or misplaced identity.
• Quote:

  “When work is an idol, rest will feel like a sin. And so if resting feels like a sin, that is a big fat lie. It’s actually a sin not to rest.” (52:23)

4. The Biblical Mandate and Gift of Rest

[53:40 – 01:11:00]

• Unpacks Exodus 20:8–11 on the Sabbath and why rest is commanded, not just suggested.
• Stresses that God Himself rested, setting apart one whole day: “There’s no loophole… He took a whole day. That’s how we’re supposed to do it.”
• Suggests practical flexibility—Sabbath doesn’t have to be Saturday, but does have to be set apart and holy.
• Explains holy rest is different from mere idleness; it’s rest “with God, in His presence.”
• Shares additional Scriptures on rest: Hebrews 4:9-10, Exodus 33:14, Psalm 4:8, Psalm 91:1.
• Quote:

  “When I’ve done that… a whole day resting, start to finish… I actually feel the reset in my spirit, mind, and soul. I feel the rest.” (01:03:29)

5. Rest as Worship, Self-Discipline, and Blessing

[01:11:00 – 01:21:00]

• Encourages listeners to bring their unique situations to God: ask Him to reveal where rest can be prioritized.
• Highlights that rest enables better love, joy, and effectiveness—“Your craft is better, your intentionality is greater, your attitude is more joyful.”
• Offers empathy for listeners who truly have limited options (e.g. parents, caregivers), encouraging supernatural grace in those seasons.
• Quote:

  “Rest is productive. Even rest is obedience. Even rest is worship to the Lord.” (55:10)

6. The Challenge: Try Honoring Sabbath for a Month

[01:21:00 – 01:28:00]

• Ally suggests a practical, faith-fueled experiment: honor four Sabbaths in a month and observe the spiritual, mental, and relational results.
• Encourages listeners to view Sabbath as “the best excuse to spend time with God all day.”
• Quote:

  “He just really wants to spend a day with you every week... it could be a really sweet, intimate day just to be with God.” (01:27:11)

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Personalizing the Gospel:

  “Even if you were the only person I created on this earth, I still would have done that for you.” – Ally, on Jesus’ words to her (34:45)

• The Lie About Rest:

  “When work is an idol, rest will feel like a sin.” (52:20)

• Instructions on Rest:

  “You’re actually loving people better when you’re rested… you bring all of you. Not just all you had that day.” (01:15:10)

• Rest as Faith in God’s Provision:

  “We don’t have any FOMO. We’re not going to fear missing out… that’s operating in fear and a lack of faith in your Heavenly Father.” (01:06:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–07:30: Prayer and intro/life catch-up
• 07:30–15:45: Hair color, makeup, and embracing God’s design
• 15:45–44:15: Watching The Passion of the Christ—impact, production, testimony
• 44:15–53:40: The world’s messaging about work vs. God’s design
• 53:40–01:11:00: Sabbath, Biblical rest, how to structure and keep it holy
• 01:11:00–01:21:00: Rest as worship, blessing, and self-discipline
• 01:21:00–end: Concrete challenge and encouragements

Episode Tone

Warm, vulnerable, encouraging, and gently convicting—Ally’s teaching is relatable and full of love. She openly processes her own learning and invites listeners along for honest self-examination, practical steps, and renewed intimacy with Jesus.

Takeaways

• Rest isn’t optional—it’s God’s loving invitation and command for all His children.
• Sabbath is about blessing, presence, and provision, not restriction.
• When our identity isn’t tied to work, we’re free to experience and express love, joy, and fruitfulness—in God’s way.
• The work of Christ is both communal and ultra-personal; let it transform not just what you do, but how you live and rest.

Challenge for Listeners:
Try honoring a full day of Sabbath every week for a month, keeping it holy, and bringing your specific situation to Jesus for grace and guidance. Notice the changes in your spirit, work, relationships, and joy.