In a world full of busyness and overwhelming stress, colleges should implement mental health days into their academic calendar. As a Christian institution, we are called to a higher standard. We are called to observe the Sabbath and have a holy day of rest, but most students find this nearly impossible with their chaotic academic schedule and overload of extracurriculars. Rest is a sacred gift that we need to take time to appreciate so that we can be re-energized to work diligently in all that we do. In today’s fast-paced academic world, it is easy to glorify busyness, putting God on the back burner. College students juggle classes, jobs, internships, ministries and social commitments, all while trying to discern God’s calling for their lives. With so much pressure, many students wrestle with burnout, anxiety and exhaustion. While counseling services and wellness programs help, there is a deeper truth that Christian colleges should not overlook: Rest is not a weakness; it is a biblical command. Christian colleges should take the lead in scheduling mental health days into their academic calendars as an intentional act of spiritual formation. These days would remind students that rest is holy, that mental and emotional renewal are part of God’s design and that caring for our minds is just as important as caring for our grades.
Scripture models the rhythm of work and rest. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Not because He was tired, but to set an example for His creation. The Sabbath was meant to be a day of restoration, reflection and connection with God. Yet in modern college culture, students are often expected to be available and productive every waking hour. We have replaced Sabbath with schedules, and peace with pressure. By building mental health days into the academic calendar, Christian institutions show that rest is holy. When we rest, we declare that our worth does not depend on how much we accomplish or on what we do, but on who we are in Christ. We trust that God remains in control even when we stop striving. For students who constantly feel the need to do more, this is a powerful lesson in surrender and our identity in Christ.
Some might argue that students already have weekends or breaks, but the reality is that those times are rarely restful. Weekends fill up with homework, extracurriculars, appointments or part-time jobs. Breaks often bring travel or family responsibilities. Scheduled mental health days would give students true space to breathe, allowing students to slow down, pray and reset before continuing the work God has called them to do. These days could also be an opportunity for campuses to live out community care and spiritual disciplines. Faculty could use the time for their own renewal as well, modeling a rhythm of rest that mirrors Jesus’ example of withdrawing to quiet places to pray.
The benefits extend beyond spiritual formation. Students who take intentional rest are more focused, creative and emotionally resilient instead of burnt out and physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted. When we honor our limits, we actually work more effectively. In this way, mental health days are not only compassionate, but they are also wise stewardship of the minds and bodies God has entrusted to us. As a Christian college, our mission goes beyond academic excellence; it is about cultivating whole persons who love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. That includes teaching students to care for their mental and emotional well-being. Jesus tells us through His Word to rest in him, and we should not ignore this sweet invitation.
Ultimately, rest is not a reward for finishing our work. Rest is a rhythm built into creation itself. By honoring that rhythm, Christian colleges can offer students something far greater than a day off. They can offer a glimpse of God’s grace. They offer a reminder that in His kingdom, rest is holy. We are taught that our peace is not earned by productivity but given freely by the One who calls us to abide in Him. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
