From preparing next week’s sermon, keeping next week’s appointment, not dropping the ball on my exercise routine, ensuring enough time with loved ones — the list goes on.
In an age defined by deadlines, digital overload and the demand to do more seems more appealing than the mere mention of the word ‘rest’.
We tend to forget that we need to incorporate the rhythm of rest into our life. If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the go, or feel like you should be on the go, even in a state of rest.
At many times I felt my anxiety levels increase when I’m meant to be resting.
A side of me that I’m still working on.
From a Christian perspective, rest is a deeply woven thread in the biblical narrative — an invitation from God not only to pause, but to trust, worship and be restored.
The first and most foundational reference of rest in the Bible is in Genesis.
We read that “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:3, NIV).
This act wasn’t because God needed rest, but because He was modelling a rhythm of life for humanity: His work was followed by intentional rest.
In the New Testament, Jesus reframes and fulfils the concept of rest.
His words in Matthew 11:28-30 are among the most tender in scripture: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Jesus invites us not into just a day off, but into a relationship.
The rest Jesus offers goes beyond physical relief — it is rest for the soul, freedom from guilt and peace in the midst of life's storms.
Stress, worries and life's burdens weigh us down, leaving us weary and longing for relief.
Yet, in the midst of the everyday chaos, Jesus extends an invitation that transcends all human understanding — an invitation to find true rest in Him.
Many of us strive to carry our burdens alone.
We try to manage anxiety, fear and uncertainty with our own strength, forgetting that God desires to carry these burdens for us.
Instead of releasing our worries to Him, we hold on tightly, unwilling to surrender control.
But scripture reminds us in 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
The rest Jesus offers is not just a momentary escape; it's a continual way of life, the key to resting in Christ is surrender.
When we entrust our fears, worries and struggles to Jesus, we no longer need to bear the weight alone.
In Him, we find security, peace and renewal — not only in moments of crisis but in the everyday rhythms of life.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or burdened, know that Jesus is waiting with open arms. His rest is freely given to those who come to Him in faith.
I encourage you, whatever the struggles in your soul, whatever the issues you face, Jesus’s invitation holds: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
As the theologian and philosopher Saint Augustine once said, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
The Bible ends with a vision of eternal rest: no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4). Until then, let us embrace the rest freely available to us here on Earth.
Pastor Samuel Jacob
Lifesource Church, Echuca
9°C