When We Rest: Finding God’s Peace in a Busy World

In our fast-paced culture, rest often feels like a luxury we can’t afford. Yet Scripture reveals that rest isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential to our spiritual growth and relationship with God. When we rest, we make room for God to work in our lives and discover the peace that comes from trusting Him completely.

What Does the Bible Say About Rest?

Jesus himself extended this beautiful invitation in Matthew 11: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This isn’t just a nice sentiment—it’s a promise. God wants to give us rest, and He’s modeled it for us from the very beginning.

God’s Example of Rest

Rest is Built into Creation

From the very beginning, rest was part of God’s design. Genesis 2:2-3 tells us: “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.”

If God—who never grows tired or weary—chose to rest, how much more do we need it? Rest isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s following God’s own pattern.

Rest as Deliverance

When God delivered Israel from Egypt, part of their freedom was freedom from the endless work cycle. The fourth commandment—to keep the Sabbath holy—wasn’t a burden but a gift. It was permission to stop, to trust that God would provide, and to remember who was really in control.

How Can We Practice Biblical Rest?

Rest as a spiritual discipline involves four key elements that can transform how we approach our relationship with God:

1. Stop

The first step is simply to stop. This means creating a day without “have-to’s”—a day when you’re not rushing to complete your endless to-do list. As Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.”

Stopping doesn’t mean you’re done or giving up. It means you’re choosing to trust that the world will keep spinning even when you’re not powering it. This can feel unnatural at first, but it’s essential for experiencing God’s peace.

2. Rest

True rest goes beyond just stopping—it’s about restoration. Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul.” This kind of rest allows God’s rhythms of grace, mercy, and peace to calm our hearts and minds.

Think of the difference between a speed walker and someone who strolls leisurely, noticing the beauty around them. Sabbath rest is like that leisurely walk—unhurried, observant, and peaceful.

3. Delight

Psalm 34:8 encourages us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Rest should include things that bring you joy and help you appreciate God’s goodness. This might be:

Enjoying good food with people you love
Pursuing a hobby that refreshes your soul
Spending time in nature
Listening to music
Engaging in activities that make you smile

I read a Pastor who shared how making chocolate pancakes with his children became a sacred Sabbath ritual. His daughter once told him, “Dad, you’re different on pancake day. You look happy.” Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is make space for simple joy.

4. Contemplate

Use part of your rest time to reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness. This isn’t about worrying or planning—it’s about giving yourself permission to notice how God has been working in your life.

One woman practices writing down every blessing she noticed during the week, setting a timer for just 10 minutes. She discovered that slowing down helped her see God’s faithfulness in ways she’d missed Him when moving too fast. She realized God was orchestrating a beautiful picture of His faithfulness and provision around her – one she could see once she’d slowed down to take it in.

Why Is Rest So Difficult?

Cultural Pressure

Our culture equates busyness with importance and rest with laziness. We’re conditioned to believe that if we’re not constantly productive, we’re somehow failing. But this mindset contradicts God’s design for our lives.

Trust Issues

At its core, rest requires trust. When we rest, we’re declaring that God is in control and that our worth isn’t determined by our productivity. This can feel scary, especially if we’re used to earning our value through achievement.

Fear of Missing Out

We worry that if we step back, we’ll fall behind or miss something important. But rest actually makes us more capable of living well, not less.

What Happens When We Rest?

We Become Less Reactive

Regular rest helps us respond to life’s challenges with greater peace and wisdom rather than reacting from a place of stress and exhaustion.

We Gain Perspective

When we slow down, we can see God’s faithfulness more clearly. We notice blessings we missed when we were rushing through life.

We Experience God’s Love

Rest reminds us of three crucial truths: we are loved, we are safe, and we belong to God. These aren’t things we need to earn—they’re gifts to receive.

Starting Your Rest Practice

Begin Small

You don’t have to transform your entire schedule overnight. Start with small steps:

Choose one day (or part of a day) each week for intentional rest
Turn off notifications and avoid checking emails
Engage in one activity purely for joy
Spend a few minutes reflecting on God’s goodness

Make It Personal

Your rest might look different from someone else’s. For some, it’s being outdoors; for others, it’s reading quietly indoors. The key is choosing activities that restore rather than drain you.

Remember the Purpose

Rest isn’t about being lazy—it’s about making space for God. It’s about remembering that your identity and security come from Him, not from what you accomplish.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to practice biblical rest. Choose one day (or even just a few hours) to stop, rest, delight, and contemplate God’s goodness. Give yourself permission to slow down and trust that God is holding everything together.

As you practice rest, ask yourself these questions:

What am I trying to control that I need to surrender to God?
How has God been faithful to me this week, and what blessings have I overlooked in my busyness?
What activities truly restore my soul and help me connect with God’s love?
How can I make rest a regular rhythm in my life rather than something I only do when I’m exhausted?

Remember, Sabbath rest is God’s weekly reminder that you are loved, you are safe, and you are His. In a world that constantly demands more, God invites you to simply come and rest with Him.

When We Give: the spiritual discipline of giving.

Generosity is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines that can transform our relationship with God and reshape our hearts in profound ways. When we understand giving as a pathway to experiencing God’s love rather than earning it, everything changes.

What Does Jesus Say About Giving?

In Matthew 6:2-4, Jesus makes a striking assumption. He doesn’t say “if you give” but “when you give.” This isn’t a suggestion—it’s an expectation for those following Christ. Jesus instructs us not to announce our giving with fanfare like the hypocrites, but to give quietly, trusting that our Father who sees in secret will reward us.

This passage reveals something beautiful: generosity is meant to be a natural overflow of a heart that has encountered God’s incredible generosity toward us. We’re created in God’s image, and there’s no one more generous than our Heavenly Father.

Why Is Giving So Difficult?

Money represents more than paper in our lives. It symbolizes security, control, status, and safety. When God asks us to give, He’s confronting these deep-seated attachments that can become idols in our hearts.

Unlike other spiritual disciplines like prayer or Bible study, giving confronts us in a uniquely tangible way. We can read Scripture and feel surrendered to God, we can pray and sense His presence, but when it comes to opening our wallets, something different happens. That resistance reveals how tightly we can grip what we think provides our security.

How Does Generosity Develop Surrender?

Generosity is a spiritual discipline that accelerates spiritual maturity unlike any other. When we give, we’re surrendering a piece of our control to God. We’re declaring that He is our provider, not our paycheck. He is our source, not our savings account.

Proverbs 3:9-10 teaches about first fruits: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” God doesn’t ask for our first fruits because He needs them—He asks because we need the reminder that He is first in our lives.

There’s an old story about a farmer who had a beautiful apple orchard. One year, the harvest was especially good. The apples were huge and perfect — the kind of fruit that could bring in the best prices at the market.

When he gathered the first basket of apples, he looked at them and thought, “I’ll set one aside for God — my first and best apple.”

But as he picked, he noticed some bruised apples, some smaller ones, and he thought, “Maybe I’ll give one of these instead. God won’t mind.”

Later that evening, he sat at his table, looked at the basket of apples, and realized what had happened. He had started with the desire to give God his first and best, but along the way, his heart started to protect what he thought was his own.

So, he quietly took the biggest, reddest apple, polished it on his sleeve, and placed it in a basket by the door marked ‘For the Lord.’

He didn’t know how much that one apple mattered — but something changed in his heart.

Every year after that, his first act of harvest was to give.
And over time, that one small discipline taught him to surrender not just his apples, but his whole life to God. It guarded his heart from being consumed with his wealth.

How Does Giving Build Trust in God?

Generosity expands our level of trust in our Heavenly Father. When we give, we’re not just trusting God in our minds—we’re trusting Him with our hearts and our hands. We’re saying, “God, I trust You to provide for me.”

George Mueller’s story illustrates this beautifully. In the 1800s, he ran orphanages in England completely by faith, never asking for money but trusting God to provide. One morning, he woke to find the orphanage completely empty—no food, no milk, nothing for the children’s breakfast. Instead of panicking, he gathered all the children in the dining room with empty plates and cups and thanked God for the food He was going to provide.

Moments after the prayer, the local baker knocked at the door, saying he couldn’t sleep and felt God telling him they needed bread. Minutes later, the milkman’s cart broke down outside, and he offered his milk that would spoil if not used that morning. Every child ate a full breakfast that morning. What an incredible unexpected blessing from God revealing His faithfulness and provision.

What Peace Does Generosity Bring?

The world tells us that peace comes from having more—more money, more comfort, more security. But Jesus teaches that the kingdom comes through giving our lives away, through seeing that life is spent on eternal treasure, not ourselves.

When we live generously, when we surrender and trust God with our resources, anxiety loses its grip on our lives. We discover that we’re stewards, not owners, of everything we have. This realization brings a supernatural peace that transcends understanding.

Philippians 4:6-7 promises: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Can Everyone Participate in Giving?

Absolutely. Jesus highlighted this truth when He drew attention to a widow who gave her last two pennies in the synagogue. While others gave large amounts with fanfare, she gave out of surrender, offering everything she had. Jesus used her as an example because generosity isn’t about the amount—it’s about the heart behind the hand.

Everyone can participate because generosity isn’t about what’s in your hand; it’s about what’s in your heart. Whether it’s your tithe (10% of your income), a love offering, or a sacrificial gift, every act of generosity is a doorway to encounter God more deeply.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to practice first fruits giving or budget towards honoring the Lord with your finances.

Ask yourself these questions: What am I holding onto that represents security, control, or status in my life? How can I practice surrender by giving generously this week? Where do I need to trust God more deeply as my provider? What would change in my heart if I truly believed I’m a steward, not an owner, of everything I have?

Remember, we don’t give to earn God’s love—we give because we are already completely loved. We don’t give to get from God—we give to know God and encounter His life more deeply. When we give, we step into the beautiful rhythm of surrender, trust, and peace that marks a life yielded to our generous Heavenly Father.

When You Read: The Power of Hiding God’s Word in Your Heart

In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines we can develop is reading and internalizing God’s Word. Just as Jesus relied on Scripture during His most vulnerable moments, we too can find strength, direction, and protection through the intentional practice of hiding God’s Word in our hearts.

How Did Jesus Use Scripture in His Darkest Hour?

Before Jesus began His earthly ministry, He faced 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. During this vulnerable time, Satan tempted Him three times – with performance, possessions, and popularity. In each instance, Jesus responded not with His own wisdom or strength, but with Scripture from the book of Deuteronomy.

This reveals something profound about Jesus’ relationship with God’s Word. He was “soaked in scripture” – so saturated with God’s truth that it became His natural response to temptation. When the enemy tried to derail His mission, Jesus had already hidden God’s Word so deeply in His heart that it became His defense system.

What Does It Mean to Hide God’s word in Your Heart?

Psalm 119:11 provides our foundation: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” This verse reveals five powerful truths about engaging with Scripture.

1. Intentional Engagement

The word “hidden” suggests more than casual reading. It implies intentionality, memorization, and meditation – a deliberate effort to internalize God’s truth. Just as someone hides a valuable treasure for safekeeping, we’re called to safeguard God’s word within us.

Think of it like a cow’s digestive process. Cows have four stomachs and repeatedly chew, swallow, regurgitate, and rechew their food. Similarly, we need to take God’s Word, reflect on it, let it resurface in our minds, and continue processing it until it becomes part of who we are.

2. The Heart’s Domain

In biblical terms, the heart isn’t just the organ that pumps blood – it’s the core of our being, including our intellect, emotions, will, and conscience. When we hide God’s word in our hearts, we allow it to inform our thoughts, shape our feelings, direct our decisions, and guide our moral compass.

God’s truth becomes the lens through which we view the world and ourselves. It rewires our inner life and helps us remember who and whose we are called to be.

3. Protection from Sin

The explicit purpose given in this verse is protection: “that I might not sin against you.” This isn’t just about following rules – it’s about yielding ourselves to God’s ways rather than the direction of culture.

When temptation arises, when doubts creep in, or when the world tries to pull us away, having God’s word hidden in our hearts provides a protective barrier. It’s enough to not do something simply because it’s a sin against God, even when family, friends, or culture might approve.

4. Understanding Sin as Offense Against God

The verse reveals an innocent truth: we avoid sin not primarily because of natural consequences, but because it offends our loving God. There may be sins available to us that no one would know about, but that doesn’t mean they won’t lead to destruction in our lives.

God does His best work in the privacy of our lives. Much of our healing and transformation happens in the secret place, where He lovingly convicts us and invites us to yield to His ways.

5. A Lifelong Practice

This is an ongoing discipline of receiving God’s word and letting it take root. It’s not a one-time event but a continuous practice of allowing Scripture to shape our lives day by day.

Where Should I Start Reading the Bible?

If you’re wondering where to begin, start simple. Download a Bible app and commit to reading the verse of the day. By this time next year, you’ll have encountered 365 verses. Consistency brings quality, even in small doses.

Another great starting place is the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). You’ll read about Jesus life, ministry, and teachings. This is the best starting place – especially if you have the time and focus to enjoy a few chapters of Scripture at a time.

Remember, quality often trumps quantity. Whether you read 10-15 chapters or just 10-20 verses, the key is letting Scripture sink deep into your understanding and affections.

Why Does God’s Word Endure?

The Bible has remarkable staying power. His Word will always stand, and His love for you will never fade.

If you’re holding onto a promise from God that seems under attack, remember that His word remains faithful. Though other things may fall apart, the testament to God’s goodness, heart, and generosity toward us will stand forever.

Life Application

This week, commit to hiding God’s word in your heart through intentional engagement. Start with just one verse – perhaps Psalm 119:11 itself. Read it, meditate on it, and let it become part of your inner dialogue. When faced with decisions or temptations, allow this hidden Word to guide your response.

Consider these questions as you begin this practice:

What areas of my life need the protective power of God’s word?
How can I move from casual Bible reading to intentional hiding of Scripture in my heart?
What verse or passage is God calling me to memorize and meditate on this week?
How might my responses to temptation change if I were “soaked in scripture” like Jesus?

Remember, this isn’t about earning God’s favor or having everything together. It’s about receiving God’s love letter to you and allowing His truth to transform your life from the inside out. As you hide His word in your heart, you’ll discover the same protective power that sustained Jesus in His most vulnerable moments.