Biblical Rest Practices - Following Jesus' Example
How Did Jesus Practice Rest? A Biblical Guide
Quick Answer
Jesus regularly practiced rest despite having urgent ministry work and people constantly needing Him. Scripture shows Jesus taking naps during storms (Mark 4:38), withdrawing to quiet places for prayer (Luke 5:16), and inviting His disciples to rest with Him (Mark 6:31). He worked from a place of restoration, not exhaustion.
Jesus Wasn't In a Hurry
During His ministry on earth, Jesus was known for many things—being in a hurry wasn't one of them. He wasn't in a hurry to start His earthly ministry, wasn't in a hurry to wake up from His nap even when His boat encountered a storm that scared experienced fishermen, and wasn't in a hurry to get to Lazarus even when His dear friend was dying.
Jesus slowed down to rest. He slowed down to spend time with His Father. When Jesus felt tired, He chose to take a break.
What the Bible Says About Jesus and Rest
Jesus Rested When He Was Tired
John 4:6 tells us: "Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well."
This simple verse reveals a profound truth: when Jesus felt tired, He rested. He didn't push through exhaustion or feel guilty about taking a break in the middle of His workday. His decision to rest led to his life-changing encounter with the Samaritan woman.
Jesus Gave Permission to Stop
Mark 6:31 records Jesus saying to His disciples: "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
Notice this happened because "so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat." Jesus prioritized rest over productivity, even when people had urgent needs.
Jesus Took Naps Without Guilt
Mark 4:38 shows Jesus "sleeping on a cushion" during a furious storm. Nowhere in Scripture does it say Jesus felt guilty about resting. He understood that rest was part of God's design, not a character flaw.
Common Questions About Following Jesus' Example of Rest
Q: Is it really okay for adults to take naps?
A: Absolutely! Jesus made it a point to show us that naps are perfectly okay for adults to take. When you're tired, rest. The Lord might be preparing you for something or someone, just like He prepared Jesus for the Samaritan woman at the well.
Q: What if I have too much work to do?
A: Jesus still had work to do when He chose to rest. People still needed Him, He still had places to be and miles to walk. Taking rest when you have work to do doesn't make you lazy—it makes you like Jesus. The quality of your work and relationships changes significantly when you approach them from restoration rather than exhaustion.
Q: How do I stop feeling guilty about resting?
A: Remember that Jesus didn't die on the Cross for you to die to your work. God calls you to do His work, but He also invites you to rest from it. Rest is one of God's gifts to you because you are His child, not because of what you produce.
Practical Ways to Follow Jesus' Example
1. Work from a Place of Rest
Colossians 3:23 reminds us to "work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord." When you rest first, you carry His restorative power into your work and relationships.
2. Slow Down Your Pace
Jeremiah 2:25 (MSG) asks: "Slow down. Take a deep breath. What's the hurry? Why wear yourself out?"
Want to be more like Jesus? Slow down. Rest in the Lord. Trust His timing and go at His pace, not your own.
3. Remove the Rules Around Rest
Jesus didn't say, "Come to me after you clean the kitchen, respond to that text, answer work emails, AND THEN I will give you rest." He simply said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
The biblical example of rest is simple: Tired? Rest. Overwhelmed? Rest. Jesus puts no rules around rest for you to follow.
Ready to Dive Deeper Into Biblical Rest?
"Simplifying Rest" takes you through a complete 28-day journey of learning to follow Jesus' example of rest. Each day includes biblical teaching, reflection questions, and practical applications to help you move from exhausted to restored.
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