Why Rest is Holy – The importance of slowing down and honoring Sabbath moments.
Didn’t God give us a rest day? That right there tells us why rest is holy. But what happens when we do not rest? There are several effects of not resting—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
From the beginning of time, if we are called to be like Him, we must recognize what God Himself demonstrated. After His work was done, what did He do? He rested.
Genesis 2:2-3 (NKJV):
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
We live in demanding times, and more often than not, we feel like we cannot rest.
What if I forgot something?
I’m not tired; I can do one last thing.
I have to work this second job or overtime because financially I am not going to make it.
We come up with all the reasons in the world to put off rest, and then we are exhausted and cannot enjoy life.
Let’s break those excuses down:
“What if I forgot something?” - This turns into forgetting everything because we do not function properly without rest.
“I’m not tired.” - This often leads to sickness and burnout.
“I can work the second job or overtime.” - This leaves us drained, with no energy left for our families or even our own well-being.
For each example, there is a direct effect of how important rest is—and these are just a few small ones.
But doesn’t God tell us He will provide? And has He ever left us without?
Psalm 23 (NKJV):
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.”
Restoring our soul gives us a refreshing, sharpening our memory for the next day’s tasks while providing the energy we need. These scriptures are clear! Yet, I’ll admit—I’m guilty myself of trying to take care of everything. I often have to remind myself: Yes, it is a sin to not rest. It’s disobedience.
As people who live in the flesh, we seem to think we have to handle everything. But today, let’s focus on a true guided day. Ask the Lord this morning to guide your steps, to give you the ability to acknowledge when you’ve done all you can, and to rest in Him to do the rest.
Psalm 127:2 (NKJV):
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.”
I’m working on this. That scripture is taped to my mirror as a daily reminder. What are you going to do to intentionally rest in His presence? Drop it in the comments.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of rest. Thank You for showing us through Your own example that rest is necessary, holy, and good. Teach us to release the burden of trying to do it all on our own. Help us to trust You fully and embrace the rest You have blessed us with. Guide us to slow down, to honor Sabbath moments, and to renew our spirits in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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