Embrace the Off-Season

Related Scripture:

 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the resident alien who is within your city gates. For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.”  Exodus 20:8-11

As football officials, we live by the clock. From kickoff to final whistle, every second matters. Decisions are fast. Pressure is constant. And there’s little margin for error. When the season ends, though, many of us struggle to slow down. The off-season can feel unproductive or even uncomfortable. Yet Scripture reminds us that rest is not wasted time—it is sacred time.

In Exodus 20:8–11, God commands His people to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” This call to rest is rooted in God’s own pattern. After six days of creation, the Lord rested—not because He was tired, but because rest completes good work. Rest declares that the world keeps turning not by our effort alone, but by God’s sustaining power.

For officials, the season demands sharp focus, physical conditioning, and mental toughness. The off-season, however, is where renewal happens. Muscles recover. Perspective returns. We find joy in quality time with our families, other hobbies, and redeeming time once spent in stripes. Ignoring rest doesn’t make us more dedicated; it makes us more depleted. When we refuse to stop, we subtly claim that everything depends on us.

Embracing the off-season is an act of trust. It says, “God, I believe You are at work even when I step back.” Rest recalibrates our hearts, reminding us that our identity is not defined by stripes, whistles, or making the right call. Instead, our identity chiefly rests in being children of God. Remembering this, we are willing to embrace the off-season not as an interruption to the joy we experience on the field—it is a gift to help us discover a deeper joy as children of the King

Questions to Ponder:

What would it look like for you to intentionally honor God by embracing rest during this off-season?

Dr. Jarrod Kinsey - Association Chaplain, Northwest Georgia Football Officials Association (NWGFOA)