“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” – Psalm 62:1, NIV

If you have ever had a packed schedule, a full day or an excessive load of responsibilities, you probably know how easy it is to become tired. When we face burnout, we need to remember to rest, not only physically but also spiritually.

However, we cannot find this rest through our own power. Rather, we must find rest in God and the hope and peace He has to offer.

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then 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 2:2-3, NIV

Some people don’t seem to see taking a break as an option. Whether because of limited time, guilt over not doing anything or conflicting priorities, it can seem that taking a break is a misuse of time and an inappropriate choice. However, this is merely a lie we tell ourselves.

Taking breaks is important. Let’s look at some examples of Bible verses about rest. As early as Genesis 2, intentional rest is seen in the Bible. On the seventh day, God himself rested from creating the world. In Exodus, one of the Ten Commandments instructs us to remember the Sabbath, a day for the Lord after six days of work.

Fast-forward to the New Testament and we can see that even Jesus took the time to rest. In Mark 4, Jesus sleeps on a boat despite the tumultuous storm raging around him.

In Luke 10:38-42, we hear the story of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha is busy preparing everything for Jesus and Mary sits at his feet. When Martha inquires about getting Mary’s help, Jesus tells her that Mary chose what was better.

It is okay to take a break and rest in God’s presence. The Bible warns us not to become lazy, but it also encourages finding rest for your soul in Jesus Christ.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30, NIV

In Matthew 11, Jesus said, “I will give you rest.” When we are worn out, beaten and empty, we can turn to God to find peace and relief from our burdens.

In Psalm 23:2-3, David describes this as “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” We, too, can be refreshed by God.

You may be wondering, “How do I refresh my soul and rest in God?” Here are some practical ways to find rest for your soul:

• Prayer: Take the time to pray and slow your pace. As Jesus said in Matthew 11, “Come to me … and I will give you rest.”
• Remove Distractions: Sometimes our routines and habits can overwhelm or distract us. These distractions are not the same for everyone. Limiting or removing these distractions can help us refresh.
• Bible Study: Spending time in God’s word is one way to grow closer to Him. The Bible is full of stories of hope, peace and grace that we can all use during busy times.
• Practice Thankfulness: Another way to find rest for your soul is to practice thankfulness. Sometimes we focus so much on what we need to do next or our goals that we don’t focus on God where we are and we become worn down.
• Be Still: It is important at times to just listen in the quiet. Go out in nature and enjoy the wonder of God. Be still in His presence.

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