In today’s fast-paced world, rest can feel like a luxury or even a weakness. Productivity is idolized, and hustle is glorified. Yet, as believers, we are called to live counter-culturally, aligning our lives not with societal expectations but with God’s divine rhythm. One of the most overlooked aspects of God’s character and creation is His view on rest. Far from being optional or unspiritual, rest is holy. It is essential. It is God-ordained.
1. The Origin of Rest: God Rested First
In Genesis 2:2-3, we read, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
God, who is all-powerful and never tires, chose to rest. Not because He needed to, but to set a precedent for us. He sanctified the seventh day as holy, embedding rest into the very fabric of creation. If God, in His perfection, modeled rest, how much more do we, as limited humans, need it?
2. Sabbath: A Command, Not a Suggestion
Exodus 20:8-10 commands, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”
This command wasn’t just for the Israelites of old. It reveals God’s heart for His people. He knows our tendencies to overwork, to derive identity from what we do rather than who we are in Him. The Sabbath isn’t just about physical rest; it’s about spiritual realignment. It’s an intentional pause to remember that God is our source and sustainer.
3. Jesus and Rest: Grace Over Guilt
Jesus often withdrew to solitary places to pray and rest (Luke 5:16). He knew the demands of ministry and the importance of refueling in the Father’s presence. In Mark 6:31, Jesus tells His disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Jesus didn’t scold the weary. He invited them to rest. In Matthew 11:28-30, He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Rest in the Kingdom isn’t earned; it’s received. It’s an act of faith, acknowledging that God is in control, even when we pause.
4. Rest as Resistance
Choosing to rest in a culture of hustle is a form of holy rebellion. It is declaring that your worth is not in your work. It is trusting that God can do more in your surrender than you can do in your striving. Rest is not laziness; it is obedience. It is saying, “I trust You, Lord, more than I trust my efforts.”
Psalm 127:2 says, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
True rest is a gift. It positions us to hear more clearly, love more deeply, and serve more powerfully.
5. Holy Rhythms: Living a Life of Balance
God calls us into rhythms, not rigidity. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that there is a season for everything. Just as there is a time to work, there is a time to rest. These holy rhythms align us with the heartbeat of Heaven.
Holy rest doesn’t mean doing nothing; it means doing what replenishes you in God. It might look like:
- Taking a Sabbath walk in nature.
- Journaling prayers and listening to worship music.
- Turning off your phone to be present with your loved ones.
- Saying “no” to good things so you can say “yes” to God’s best.
Resting well requires intentionality. It requires discernment. But most of all, it requires surrender.
6. Rest Prepares Us for Purpose
When Elijah was exhausted and overwhelmed, God didn’t first give him a new mission—He gave him rest (1 Kings 19:5-8). The angel said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
God knows our limits. He knows that without rest, we will burn out, give up, or compromise. He desires that we be refreshed so we can fulfill the purpose He has for us.
Rest is not a detour from destiny; it is preparation for it. It clears our minds and renews our hearts. It allows us to serve not from a place of depletion but from overflow.
7. The Eternal Rest to Come
Hebrews 4:9-10 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”
Our earthly rhythms of rest are a foretaste of the eternal rest we will have with God. Every time we pause to rest in Him, we prophetically declare our hope in the eternal promise.
Conclusion: Embracing God’s Rest Today
God’s view on rest is not about legalism; it’s about love. It’s an invitation to wholeness. In a noisy world filled with endless striving, choosing to rest is choosing to trust. It’s laying down our burdens to pick up His peace.
So today, embrace the holy rhythms. Let your rest be worship. Let it be a declaration that your God is faithful, that His grace is sufficient, and that in Him, you lack nothing.
Rest isn’t just what you do; it’s who you become in Christ. Be still. Know that He is God. And in that knowing, find your holy rhythm.
