We live in a world that normalises busyness. There is always another email to answer, problem to solve, or expectation to meet. Rest can therefore feel unproductive, irresponsible or even impossible. We tell ourselves that we will slow down when everything is done, but that day never seems to come. Yet as Christians, rest should be non-negotiable.
Have you ever noticed that many of the Ten Commandments are expressed briefly and directly? Some contain only a few words. But the command to rest is explained across several verses. Why does God give rest so much attention?
The Bible gives two important reasons for Sabbath rest. In Exodus 20, the reason is trust. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Israel was called to follow that pattern, stopping their work as an act of trust in the Creator who sustains all things.
I’ve learnt that the quality of our rest is often determined by the quantity of our trust. When we believe everything depends on us, we struggle to stop. But when we trust that God is sufficient and faithful, we can lay down our work and rest in his care.
In Deuteronomy 5, the command is rooted in redemption. Israel was told to remember that they had once been slaves in Egypt, but God had rescued them. Slaves cannot choose when to stop working, but redeemed people can rest. Sabbath reminded Israel that their identity was no longer defined by endless labour, but by the God who had set them free.
The Sabbath points us beyond physical rest to the greater rest found in Jesus. We can rest because God has completed the work of salvation. On the cross, Jesus declared, “It is finished.” Rest, then, is not a reward for getting everything done. It is a gift received from the God who has already done what we could never do for ourselves.
the quality of our rest is often determined by the quantity of our trust
So what might faithful rest look like?
Physical rest allows our bodies to be restored through sleep and stillness. Cognitive rest creates space in our minds away from constant decisions, screens and notifications. Recreational rest is making space for the joy God gives through simple pleasures such as reading, music, creativity, exercise, or time in nature. Relational rest is enjoying time with loved ones that bring joy, and maintaining healthy boundaries in relationships where needed.
Spiritual rest is more than taking a day off. It is intentionally placing ourselves in God’s presence. It restores the soul through prayer and thanksgiving, meditating on God’s Word, worship through song, and meeting with God’s people. Spiritual rest turns our attention away from what we must do and towards what God has already done.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites us with our busy and burdened hearts: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It’s my prayer that you’ll find true restorative rest in our Lord Jesus this summer. May you have the humility to acknowledge your limits, the faith to trust God’s provision, and the space to encounter him afresh by his Spirit.
