No matter what phase of life we are in, it can be hard to find the freedom to rest from our tasks, responsibilities, and even our own thoughts.
But that’s not the way that God designed us! He tells us to rest for many reasons, the most important being spending time with Him.
If you’re wondering what the Bible says about rest, we’ll be taking a look at Scriptures that talk about resting spiritually, emotionally, and physically. We’ll examine how rest is a gift from God that we should not ignore.
And, we have a free 31-day printable Bible reading plan – don’t miss it at the end of this post!
What the Bible Says About Rest
The world tells us to get ourselves to a sandy beach or a luxurious spa, and we will find the rest we need.
And while we might find some rest in exotic or beautiful locations, they are not necessarily where we will find Biblical rest.
God modeled rest for us in Genesis 2:2.
“On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done.”
After the creative and beautiful work that was His creation of our world, God took a day to rest from the work.
Was God tired and needed to rest? I would venture to say no. God is strong (Jeremiah 32:17) and all-powerful (Isaiah 55:10–11). His might is beyond our understanding. So why did He rest?
I believe that He did so to show us the importance of rest, that we are not to work and work and work. Even God paused from His work to rest on the seventh day, which is often referred to as the Sabbath day.
We have used this Sabbath day to come together to worship Him, and reflect on what He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives. What a wonderful gift He gives to us in this Sabbath rest!
What Is Biblical Rest?
Our first thoughts of rest are often of a relaxing beach or a refreshing day at the spa. Now, those settings can sometimes be helpful in true rest, but they are not true rest in and of themselves.
Instead, true rest comes from resting in the Lord. Psalm 62:1 tells us this.
“My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.”
Our soul can be at our rest and our heart can be at peace when we accept the free gift of salvation from the Lord, by surrendering our hearts and lives to the Lord.
Yet sometimes as Christians, we still struggle with our peace and rest in the Lord. Might I suggest that our hearts maybe have wandered from that surrender?
Not in a big, noticeable way that makes headlines. But small ways, where we are no longer relying on God, but on our own strength and control of the situation.
I think God uses rest in our lives, whether it is the Sabbath, or some other opportunity to rest, to say to our hearts, “It doesn’t all rely on you.”
Working every moment isn’t only unsustainable. It also doesn’t leave any space for you to recognize that God is at work, providing the answers to prayers that you are seeking.
Being at rest gives us a chance to trust in the Lord for the things that concern us.
Why God Commands Us to Rest
In the Old Testament, God’s people were given Exodus 20:8-10, also known as the fourth commandment of the ten commandments.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You shall labour six days, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates.”
The people in the Old Testament had nothing like the modern conveniences we had today. There are many things we can do to prepare our home and lives for a day off of our everyday concerns.
We can store prepared food in our refrigerators. We don’t have to go fetch our water but can just turn on our faucets. We can have our modern servants – our appliances – do our work in the fraction of the time it would have taken thousands of years ago.
Yet still, God was telling them to take a day for rest, to set it apart as holy unto Him. It was difficult but many of them did it in obedience to the Lord.
He wanted them to rest in Him and depend on Him. This could prepare their hearts, minds, and bodies for the days ahead, to serve Him for His purposes for them.He wanted them to worship Him and spend time with Him.
And He still wants the same for us today. He wants us to rest in Him and His salvation, to trust Him and to worship Him.
Resting from work isn’t an obligation or inconvenience, but instead an opportunity to be with God apart from our concerns.
Rest Through the Peace of Christ
One of the reasons we may have trouble finding rest is that we are not sure what real rest looks like.
After all, the commercials, magazines, and movies show peace as a setting. It’s sitting on a beach in a chaise lounge. It’s a hike looking out over a beautiful valley. It’s an expensive day at the spa.
Yet while we might find some physical or mental rest at these places, we can find the peace of Christ wherever we are when we look to Jesus to fulfill our needs.
John 14:27 offers us this wisdom.
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”
No matter how challenging the day, week, month, or year is, we can find the peace that Jesus has to give to us.
It will often not look like what the world has to offer. Not everyone gets the chance to have an extended break from their challenging circumstances. Yet Jesus still offers us His peace, asking us to set aside our troubled or fearful heart.
We often will find this peace as we bring our anxious hearts to Him in prayer, remembering Philippians 4:6-7.
“In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”
Invite God’s peace to guard your heart as you trust in Him for the things that concern you.
How to Make Rest a Regular Rhythm of Your Life
You may be thinking, “This is all very well and good, but how am I supposed to do this? I can’t possibly set aside a whole day or do Sabbath ‘the right way’!”
My advice would be to start small. Maybe there are some habits that you can choose that would help you eventually have a full Sabbath rest. In the meantime, here are some starting points for making rest a habit.
Set aside some quiet time for each day. If you aren’t reading the Bible every day, this would be a great place to start. Choose a plan – this article has some options, then spend some time praying. Starting off your day works for many people, but do what works best for you.
Schedule a Sabbath or mini-Sabbath each week. I’ve seen a lot of Christians spend Sabbath in creative and varied ways. One takes Sabbath hikes each week, spending time with God in beautiful nature. Another walks and prays in rather ordinary settings. Others spend time singing and praying to the Lord.
If some of those options sound good to you, that’s great! But everyone isn’t the same. Maybe journaling out your prayers at home or in a coffee shop is a way that you feel closer to the Lord. Pray for guidance in this area.
Let go of the idea of the “perfect” Sabbath. This isn’t a contest. You don’t have to have a better Sabbath than others. And there is more than enough grace to make up for where you think you’ve fallen short.
Be open to how God is guiding you to spend your Sabbath, and go from there.
Download the Free 30-Day Bible Reading Plan on Rest
If you want to know more about what the Bible says about rest, this free printable 31 day reading plan is a great place to start.
This 30-day Bible reading plan offers a daily verse, suitable for starting on any day of the month.
These verses focus on finding true rest in God.
This printable plan is labeled with the theme, but some of them are labeled with the month of May as we have made a suggested plan for the year.
You can get the free version on Gumroad.
We also have an expanded version with a journaling page, a prayer request log, and a notes page. You can get this version in my Etsy store.
Here’s a quick look at the complete reading list for the month.
Each version also comes with Bible study and reflection questions. Find those questions below.
- In Genesis 2:2, God rested after creation. If He didn’t need rest, why do you think He modeled it for us? How does this shape your own view of rest?
- The fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8–10 calls us to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” What does keeping the Sabbath look like in your current season of life?
- Jesus promises in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” How is the peace of Christ different from the rest the world offers through vacations, entertainment, or leisure?
- What areas of your life do you need God’s peace and rest? Write a short prayer asking Him to help you surrender those areas to Him today.
The world constantly pushes us to do more, achieve more, and strive for more, often leaving us feeling depleted and restless. Yet, as we’ve seen in Scripture, God’s design for us includes the profound gift of rest – not as a luxury, but as a vital component of our spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.
From His own example in creation to the command of the Sabbath, God invites us to step back from our ceaseless toil and find true solace in Him.
Biblical rest isn’t just about taking a break from work; it’s a surrender of our anxieties and a trust in His unfailing provision. It’s about recognizing that we are not the ones in control, and that God is actively working in our lives, even when we pause.
The peace Christ offers is a peace that transcends our circumstances, a deep assurance found through prayer and a humble reliance on His strength.
Making rest a regular rhythm in your life doesn’t require perfection or grand gestures. It begins with small, intentional steps: carving out daily quiet time, scheduling mini-Sabbaths, and releasing the pressure to “do it right.”
Be open to how God is guiding you to experience this divine gift, for He desires for you to rest in Him and embrace the overflowing peace that only He can provide.
As you continue on this journey of discovering what the Bible says about rest, remember: it’s not an obligation or an inconvenience, but a beautiful opportunity to draw closer to God and experience His renewing presence.
Download the free 30-day reading plan and begin to cultivate a life marked by His profound peace and restorative rest.
If you liked this article on what the Bible says about rest, you may also like Rest in Christ and Bible Verses about Storms of Life.
