What does rest even mean? It seems that we are always going and the sheer concept of rest has been lost in today’s society. I’ve often found it hard to differentiate the difference between rest and slothfulness because “resting” makes me suddenly feel like I’m in danger of being lazy. Yikes!
Can you relate?
The pace in which we feel we must live greatly impacts the perception of our ability to rest.
Merriam-Webster defines rest as:
- repose, sleep
- specifically : a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
- freedom from activity or labor
- state of motionlessness or inactivity
- the repose of death
Here’s the deal. We are not robots. We were created to rest. Our bodies and souls need it. We require it to function at our best in fact.
You cannot go without it.
So, taking the time the you need to rest adequately for your body is imperative.
God did not build into the calendar week a Sabbath for us to push through and do work. He did not build into the rhythm of each 24 hour cycle a period of night for continued work. He built these cycles for our bodies to rest. He considered it important enough to establish it at the beginning of creation for a reason.
So, let’s dive in and figure out how to biblically balance our need to work and to rest.
What is Biblical Rest?
Sabbath (originating from Shabbat) literally means rest and as I’ve already mentioned it, it most often refers to the 7th day of the week in which God rested after creating the heavens and the earth.
It is the day we stop work and worship God. Christians traditionally keep Sunday as a weekly “day of rest”, commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus which took place on Sunday.
When to observe Sabbath has become a controversial topic even amongst Christians. Discussing these challenges and differences is not the point of this article.
Rather, the observance of Sabbath is an important biblical practice that is God given and something we should take into account as important to our spiritual life and health.
God invites us to rest throughout scripture and to find our rest in Him. (e.g., Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 23) that highlight God’s invitation to rest.
Biblical rest differs from mere physical rest.
Finding Rest in God
There are emotional and spiritual benefits of resting especially when we find our rest in God. I just love what Hebrews 4:10 says about rest.
“For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.”
You see, I’ve spent many restless nights up without sleep and my failure to bring my anxiety and stress to God has kept me up. We’re able to reduce our anxiety and stress and finally sleep when we actually bring our burdens to Jesus as He invites us to in Matthew 11:28.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
What is so difficult about this is we must bring our burden’s to Jesus. We must intentionally do this ourselves. It requires us to recognize what is going on and to humble ourselves and hand it over to God
So, if you can’t see the correlation between your physical rest and spiritual rest. I hope you can now. They are directly related. You may never find true rest until you find your rest in the Lord. You must intentionally bring all that you have going on. Every sin, every burden, and lay them at His feet. Your body has this way of releasing the stress and anxieties that come with attempting to control it all and when they are in His hands… you will feel the release your body has been longing for.
Steps to Find Rest in God
You must Setting Aside Time for God
Commit to a daily quiet time and prayer.
Listen, read, and meditate on scripture, journal.
Create a Restful Environment
An environment with a lot of distraction, TV on, and lights bright is not what creates rest. Consider how nature sparks rest day in and day out. How the insects even follow the rhythms. Create a space and time to mirror this.
Unplug the technology, put down the devices and phones. Pick up an old fashion paper printed bible.
Embrace and Practice Spiritual Disciplines
Some of the practices such as fasting help us get in touch with these natural rhythms. Consider how fasting, solitude, and musical worship alone can prepare your heart for the deeper rest you long for.
Consider the spiritual disciplines.
Obstacles to Rest
Our triggers will have their way of keeping us from doing the things we ought for ourselves. Feelings of guilt and shame have often kept me from doing the things including rest. So, processing your emotions in the presence of God might very well be the first steps into the rest that you need. Recognizing this and then surrendering it may be the freedom you truly need
You will need to learn and recognize these patterns in your life and unpack the coping mechanisms that are not serving you well. Take the time and process them with a mentor or coach.
In today’s fast-paced world, finding rest can feel almost impossible. But rest is not a luxury—it’s a necessity, designed by God for our bodies and souls to function at their best. It’s more than just physical sleep; it’s an invitation to place our burdens before God and experience peace in His presence.
As you reflect on your own patterns of rest, consider this: True rest is found when we intentionally set aside time for God and allow Him to renew our hearts. When we practice spiritual disciplines and create environments that encourage rest, we align ourselves with the rhythms God intended for us.
So, are you ready to take that step toward biblical rest? I encourage you to start by making small changes—set aside time each day for prayer, unplug from distractions, and begin to create an environment where rest can thrive. Remember, you don’t have to carry your burdens alone. Lay them at God’s feet and discover the true rest your body, mind, and soul have been longing for.
Let’s start this journey together—find your rest in Him today.