Making Biblical Rest a Priority in Busy Life
How to Choose Biblical Rest When Life is Overwhelming
Quick Answer
Biblical rest isn't a luxury for perfect circumstances—it's a necessity that God offers regardless of your situation. Mark 2:27 reminds us: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." God created rest for you, and choosing it becomes a priority when you understand it's how He loves and leads you.
Your To-Be List Matters More Than Your To-Do List
While the world tells you to work longer and harder, Jesus invites you to prioritize being over doing:
To Be:
Be with Him
Be forgiving
Be kind
Be loving
Be patient
Be courageous
Be identified as His follower
Be at rest under His wings
John 15:5 teaches: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
When you focus on who He calls you to be, you can approach what He calls you to do from a place of joyful rest and restoration.
Rest is Necessity, Not Luxury
The world views rest as a luxury item for ideal circumstances. But how do you rest during imperfect moments? When someone you love dies? When a relationship ends? When diagnosis arrives? When violence and injustice escalate?
In these moments, you need rest the most. Not tropical island rest, but rest found in the Lord.
Habakkuk 3:16-19 (NKJV) demonstrates this: "I might rest in the day of trouble... Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines... Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength."
When you choose to rest in Him during suffering, He holds you steady and puts your feet on solid ground.
Take Your Sabbath Day
Sunday comes once a week, every year. The Sabbath is a whole day of rest created by God and set aside as holy. Choose to take it:
Take it to follow His example
Take it to worship and re-center on Him
Take it to trust Him with fears and anxieties
Take it to praise Him for His goodness
Take it to remind yourself He is in control
Take it because REST is part of how He loves you
Maybe it's not Sunday for you. Maybe it doesn't look like a day off from work. But take the day... or take the hour each week.
Experience the Holiness of Rest
From the beginning, rest was holy, set apart, and blessed. God commands us to keep the Sabbath, but He doesn't force us to experience the holiness of rest. You must choose to:
Seek the inward shelter of His embrace
Humble yourself and cultivate a quiet heart
Approach Him and accept His gift of rest
Psalm 131:2-3 (NLT) shows the way: "I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—now and always."
Rest in His Shadow
Psalm 91:1 declares: "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."
Resting in His shadow means:
Choosing to be close enough where He casts a shadow over you
Planting roots and settling down there daily
Moving with Him when He moves
Following Him closely each day
This is a daily choice of movement and rest combined.
Remember What God Did
Rest is found when you remember God's rescue, redemption, and restoration throughout history and in your own life:
When you remember His past rescue, you rest with assurance He'll make a way again
When you remember His provision, you rest with confidence He'll continue caring for you
When you remember how He carried you through grief, you rest knowing His arms are always open
When you remember His sacrifice and resurrection, you rest knowing LIFE and LIGHT and LOVE cannot be defeated
Psalm 77:11 encourages: "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago."
Practical Ways to Choose Rest Daily
1. Make Rest a Calendar Priority
Add your Sabbath to your calendar for the next four weeks. Tell someone about your commitment to choose rest.
2. Create a Daily To-Be List
Write down 2-3 ways God is leading you to be more like Jesus. Let this visual reminder guide your daily choices.
3. Practice Presence-Based Rest
When stress hits, choose to calm yourself and accept His rest. Proclaim: "I put my hope in you, Lord."
4. Remember and Rest
Keep a record of God's faithfulness. During difficult seasons, read these reminders and rest in His proven trustworthiness.
Common Questions About Choosing Rest
Q: What if choosing rest feels selfish with all my responsibilities?
A: Jesus chose rest even when people needed Him and work remained undone. Rest isn't selfish—it's obedient. You serve others better from restoration than exhaustion.
Q: How do I choose rest when my mind won't stop racing?
A: Start with your body. Practice the biblical grounding technique (5-4-3-2-1) while focusing on God's presence. Rest isn't just mental—it's spiritual.
Q: What if I don't have time for a full Sabbath day?
A: Start where you are. Take an hour. Take a walk while praying. Sit in your car and worship. God honors your desire to choose rest, even in small increments.
Q: How do I help my family understand the importance of biblical rest?
A: Model it first. Show them what it looks like to prioritize being with God. Share age-appropriate stories of how rest has helped your faith and family relationships.
Make Biblical Rest Your Daily Reality
"Simplifying Rest" provides 28 days of practical guidance for making rest a priority in every season of life. Learn to choose God's rest over the world's busyness and discover the holiness found in His presence.
Your complete guide to living restored, not exhausted