LEARNING TO REST IN GOD

Resting in God when you're busy isn't about doing less—it’s about doing life with God. Even in a packed schedule, you can find soul-level rest by shifting your posture from pressure to presence. 

Objective: Exploring what the Bible says about rest, time management and trusting God with our schedule. 

 

What is rest? 

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, rest is “to (cause someone or something to) stop doing a particular activity or stop being active for a period of time in order to relax and get back your strength:”. We can rest by sleeping, journal, take breaks during work, stay home for the day, etc…

According to the bible, rest is more than just physical relaxation; it encompasses a state of spiritual peace and freedom from worry, particularly in relationship with God. God gifts us rest through Him. Resting in God means you don’t have to earn rest. He simply gives it to you. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9. Living through Him means resting in Him. Giving Him our worries and letting go of our burdens will give us the truest and deepest form of rest. 

 

Exodus 33:14

“The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

 

Isaiah 40:29-31 

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not be faint.” 

 

Psalms 23:1-3 

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters, 

He refreshes my soul. 

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” 

 

Reflect a bit: in your life, can you notice the difference between resting and resting through God? How so?

 

Sabbath Heals the Soul 

The Sabbath is a special day of rest, worship, and reflection that God established for humanity.The word "Sabbath" comes from the Hebrew word “Shabbat,” meaning to stop, cease, or rest.. Rest is made for us. The bible supports that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”- Mark 2:27 . God commands Sabbath as a commandment not as restriction, but restoration—for your whole being.The Sabbath is mandatory just as is rest for our bodies to be healthy. 

 

Reflection: What things sometimes stop you from doing Sabbath? 

 

Rest Teaches Trust 

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15. When we rest, we say: “God, You are in control—even when I stop.” This is important as God Himself says “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10. Our rest has to be done through Him as we can’t truly rest without Him: “Remain in Me… apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:4-5. 

Reflection: What things do you have a hard time letting go of? 

 

Rest Renews Our Strength 

“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” – Isaiah 40:3. Burnout isn’t holy. God wants to fill your cup, not see you pour from an empty one. Proverbs 3:17 says “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Following the will of God brings us to be peaceful. Rest brings peace and peace is of God. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”--Philippians 4:7 

Reflection: When do you feel most weak or exhausted? 

 

Rest Rewires the Brain — God Renews the Mind 

Rest improves memory, focus, learning, and creativity. Sleep helps the brain consolidate information and clean out toxins. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2. Rest is part of how God renews our minds and gives clarity and wisdom. Psalm 23:2-3 “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”. Renewing our bodies and our minds will help us keep on going and go further. 

Reflection: Do you differentiate having enough sleep and enough rest?

 

Rest Lowers Stress — God Offers Peace 

Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, harms your immune system, and leads to anxiety, burnout, and disease. Jesus says “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28. Jesus invites us to exchange stress for soul-deep peace. “The Lord gives His beloved sleep.” – Psalm 127:2. Without rest, stress, anxiety, and exhaustion take over. With rest, joy returns, perspective shifts, and peace settles in. 

Reflection: How much of your anxiety do you give to God? 

 

Sleep Repairs the Body — God wants us to sleep, he made our bodies need it 

Sleep is shown here as a blessing, especially to those who trust in God rather than in their own endless effort. Psalm 127:2 –“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”. God even uses sleep to work on us.

Here are a few examples: 

Genesis 2:21 –God causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep to form Eve from his side. In this verse, Sleep becomes a space where God works mysteriously and intimately. 

Genesis 28:11-16 –Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven while sleeping. A reminder that God can speak in dreams during sleep. 

Matthew 1:20 – Joseph has a dream where an angel tells him not to fear taking Mary as his wife. Dreams are used by God to guide and reveal truth. 

 

Reflection: How can you incorporate God in your sleep? How do you wish for Him to manifest Himself during that time? 

 

Connection and Boundaries Prevent Burnout — God Designed Community and Rhythm 

Healthy relationships and time boundaries protect against exhaustion. Even Jesus withdrew to quiet places,took time alone, and prioritized connection with the Father But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16. Our relationships will make us go through many emotions, positive and negative ones, but as children of God, we are called to be well surrounded. Proverbs 27:17- “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Isaiah 32:18 -“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.”1 Corinthians 15:33 -“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.” 

 

Reflection: Do you ever ignore your social battery level? Why?

 

Balance is Essential — God Created Rhythms 

People need a balance between work, rest, social life, and solitude to thrive. God built rhythms into creation: day and night, work and Sabbath, seasons of growth and stillness. He Himself worked through time and rested Exodus 20:11–“In six days the Lord made… but He rested on the seventh day.” 

Reflection: Do you ever notice your body or your mind following a cycle that affects your stress, your energy level and/or your emotions? 

 

Conclusion: rest is essential and biblical 

Rest is not just a pause from activity—it’s a posture of trust, an act of worship, and a sacred rhythm built into creation by God Himself. From the Sabbath to sleep, from stillness to soul renewal, Scripture reminds us that true rest is found in Him. When we choose to rest in God, we aren’t choosing laziness or passivity—we are actively surrendering our worries, our pace, and our plans to the One who holds it all. 

God doesn’t ask us to be constantly busy to prove our worth. He invites us to stop, breathe, and dwell in His presence. As we embrace His rhythms—balancing work with worship, doing with being, effort with restoration—we discover that rest is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. And it’s a gift. 

May we learn to slow down not just to recharge, but to reconnect—with ourselves, with others, and most importantly, with God. Let your rest be an act of faith. Let it be a declaration: I trust You, Lord—even when I stop.

 

Author: Sophie Lacasse