For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
After we complete a big project, we often pause for a moment, observe the work we have done, and exhale. When the job is complete, we appreciate it in a special way, knowing all the work that went into it. After creating the world and everything in it, God did not rest because He was tired; He rested to savor the work He had done. What God made in creation was beautiful, a fact not to be brushed over but a special moment to savor and appreciate. We were made in God’s image to be like Him. Rest is meant for more than catching up on sleep or pausing to do something fun. It is a regular reminder to rest in God and relish in His goodness. He is the One our hearts search for even as we try to satisfy it with so many other things. As Augustine famously said, “Our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee.”[1]
How should this understanding of rest shape the way we practice rest? What if we started to use it as more than a recharge for our own benefit but a moment to exhale and take in God’s goodness? This is necessary for our well-being. It reminds us of our Creator and our purpose found in Him. Each day, it reminds us of the hope of Christ that is secure in every season.
- What does it look like to rest in God? How is that different from simply taking a break?
- What are some things you need to thank God for as you seek rest in Him?
- Pray and thank God for the things He has done. Ask Him to allow you to savor His goodness.
[1] Justin Taylor, “An Analysis of One of the Greatest Sentences Ever Written,” The Gospel Coalition, March 9, 2017, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/an-analysis-of-one-of-the-greatest-sentences-ever-written/.
