What Is Biblical Rest?
As a licensed counselor and yoga teacher, you might think rest comes easily to me. I teach on it often, and our retreats are designed to help you find and create rhythms of rest. In all honesty, though, I’ve often struggled to rest well.
I’ve personally (and many times over) experienced the consequences of running on empty – physically, mentally and spiritually. For a long time, I believed I could just keep pushing through. I eventually realized that neglecting rest was impacting my health, my relationships, and even my ability to serve effectively.
Now I see rest not as a luxury but as biblical command and a vital rhythm for living with purpose, peace and resilience.
So many of my friends and clients have admitted to thinking that rest is selfish. Many of us feel the pressure to be everything to everyone – friends, employees, ministry leaders, wives, mothers – but, if we never take time to rest, we will eventually burn out.
Rest is not selfish. It is essential. It allows us to be more present, more patient, and more in tune with God’s purpose for our lives.
In our modern world, we often resist rest. We feel guilty for pausing, as if our worth is measured by how much we accomplish – and by how much we neglect or ignore ourselves.
Let’s think about the cup illustration: Imagine a cup filled with water. If you keep pouring out without refilling, the cup runs dry. The same is true for us. If we neglect mental, emotional and spiritual rest, we can’t fully show up for the roles God has given us.
Rest is so much more than sleep or taking time off. Rest is the intentional practice of slowing down to renew your body, mind and spirit. It’s not just about inactivity but about creating space to be rather than constantly do.
We should prioritize rest because, when we are depleted, we can’t fully show up for the people and purposes God has called us to. As the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Without rest, we risk burnout, which can negatively impact our emotional health, spiritual life, and relationships.
How does rest affect stress and anxiety, our nervous systems, and our overall health?
From a scientific standpoint, rest directly impacts our nervous system and overall well-being.
The Nervous System
Our nervous system is divided into two main parts:The sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) activates under stress. Chronic activation can lead to anxiety, inflammation and burnout.
The parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest) promotes calmness, healing and recovery.
When we prioritize intentional rest, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps regulate our stress hormones (like cortisol) and supports physical healing.
The Impact on Overall Health
Chronic stress without rest can lead to:Increased anxiety and depression
Digestive issues (due to prolonged fight-or-flight mode)
Weakened immune system
Sleep disturbances and brain fog
By regularly resting, we allow our bodies and minds to reset, reducing the risk of chronic, stress-related illnesses.
From a biblical perspective, rest is an act of trust. When we slow down, we are essentially saying:
“God, I trust You to sustain me, even when I step away from productivity.”
Rest is a declaration that we are not self-sufficient. We depend on God’s provision. It’s partly why God instituted the Sabbath. It’s a recognition that God is the one who is actually in control of all things, and we are not. We can trust that God has everything in control – yes, even when we rest.
When we look at the life of Jesus, we see a perfect balance between work, service, prayer, and rest. He was fully God, yet fully human – meaning He experienced exhaustion, hunger, and the weight of people’s expectations.
Despite the demands on His time, Jesus never operated from a place of burnout. Instead, He intentionally made time to step away, pray, and rest.
Here are some crucial lessons we can learn from Jesus about rest:
Jesus knew when to withdraw.
Jesus had a powerful ministry healing the sick, teaching crowds, and performing miracles. But, He did not let constant busyness define Him. Instead, He frequently withdrew to spend time alone with God.
Verse references: Mark 6:31, Luke 5:16
Jesus rested, even when there was still work to be done.
Jesus didn’t wait until everything was finished before resting. He understood that there will always be more work to do, but rest was a sacred rhythm He honored.
Verse references: Mark 4:38
Jesus set boundaries with people’s expectations.
Jesus loved people, but He did not let their expectations dictate His actions. He knew when to engage and when to step away.
Verse references: Luke 10:38–42
Jesus modeled Sabbath rest.
Even though Jesus healed on the Sabbath, He never disregarded its importance. The Sabbath was made for renewal and worship, not legalistic rules.
Verse references: Mark 2:27
If the Son of God needed rest, so do we! Rest is not a sign of weakness — it is an act of faith, trusting that God is in control.
Do you want to learn to rest well in your daily life? Download our free rest toolkit, and embrace the gift of renewal. Designed to help you cultivate meaningful rhythms of rest – physically, emotionally, and spiritually – the free rest toolkit will help you take your first steps on your journey toward greater peace and restoration today.