10 Things God Says About Rest
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Audio By Carbonatix
(And How to Create a Routine That Works)
For years, I treated rest like a reward. It was the shiny prize I would allow myself to have only after everything was done. After the house was clean. After the deadlines were met. After I felt I had sufficiently proved that I had “done enough” to deserve a break.
But can I be honest with you? That finish line never actually arrives. There is always one more dish, one more email, or one more need.
As I’ve walked deeper into the Word, I’ve realized Scripture tells a completely different story. God never presents rest as a luxury for the faithful; He presents it as a necessary gift for the human.
If you are feeling weary today, I want to walk you through ten things God actually says about rest. We’re going to look at what Scripture teaches, what modern science is finally catching up to confirm, and—most importantly—how you can practice rest in a way that fits your unique personality.
The Theology and Science of Rest
Here is where faith meets physiology. It turns out, God knew exactly what He was doing when He designed us.
1. God Rested First—and Called It Good
“On the seventh day God had finished his work… so he rested.” — Genesis 2:2–3 (NLT)
God didn’t rest because He was exhausted; the Creator of the universe doesn’t get tired. He rested because rhythm matters. Rest was built into the fabric of creation before sin, stress, or striving ever entered the picture.
The Science: Dr. Caroline Leaf explains that the brain functions best when it is allowed time for intentional calm and restoration. This downtime supports emotional regulation and clarity.¹
Truth: Rest isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.
2. God Commands Rest to Protect Us
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” — Exodus 20:8 (NLT)
We often view commandments as restrictions, but God’s command to rest was about care. He knows our limits even when we ignore them.
The Science: Dr. Sharon Bergquist notes that chronic busyness keeps the body in a prolonged stress response (“fight or flight”), which prevents full recovery and harms long-term health.²
Truth: What God commands is often what we need most.
3. God Invites Us to Rest With Him
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
Rest is relational. God doesn’t send us away to a spa to rest—He invites us closer to His heart.
The Science: Intentional reflection and calming practices help rewire the brain toward peace and resilience.³
4. God Uses Rest to Renew Strength
“Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.” — Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
In our culture, we think rest slows us down. In God’s economy, rest restores our capacity to keep going.
The Science: Sleep and recovery are essential to regulate hormones, support immune health, and build physical resilience.⁴
5. God Calls Sleep an Act of Trust
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” — Psalm 4:8 (NLT)
Every night, sleep asks us to answer a difficult question: Can I trust God to manage the world while I am unconscious? Sleep is the daily practice of releasing control.
The Science: Releasing mental clutter before sleep improves emotional regulation and cognitive health.⁵
6. God Uses Rest to Heal the Body
“He renews my strength.” — Psalm 23:3 (NLT)
Healing often happens in stillness. We cannot rush restoration.
The Science: Deep rest reduces inflammation and supports the body’s natural cellular repair processes.⁶
7. God Gives Sleep as a Gift
“He grants sleep to those he loves.” — Psalm 127:2 (NLT)
Sleep isn’t a wage you earn. It is a grace you receive.
The Science: Quality sleep is directly connected to improved memory, mood, and decision-making capabilities.⁷
8. God Meets Us in Quiet
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
Quiet isn’t empty space—it’s space filled with God’s presence.
The Science: Quiet moments calm the sympathetic nervous system and actively reduce stress hormones like cortisol.⁸
9. God Designed Rhythm, Not Hustle
“There is a time for everything.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)
We were created for seasons and rhythms, not relentless, linear motion.
The Science: Predictable rhythms help the brain recognize safety and stability, reducing anxiety.⁹
10. God Uses Rest to Prepare Us
“He leads me beside peaceful streams.” — Psalm 23:2 (NLT)
Rest prepares us for what comes next. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
The Science: Sustainable purpose requires recovery, not just constant output.¹⁰
Bedtime Routine Personas
(Because Rest Is Not One-Size-Fits-All)
God created us with different temperaments, stressors, and rhythms. A routine that works for your best friend might keep you wide awake. Your bedtime routine should fit you—not someone else’s Instagram highlight reel.
Do you recognize yourself in any of these?
The Achiever
- Needs: Closure and permission to stop.
- Best Tools: Make a to-do list earlier in the evening (to get it out of your head), say a prayer of release, and use a firm bedtime cue (like closing the office door).
The Caregiver
- Needs: Reassurance that rest is not selfish.
- Best Tools: One act of self-care (lotion, tea), reading Scripture, and listening to gentle worship music.
The Anxious Thinker
- Needs: Mental “off-ramps.”
- Best Tools: Brain-dump journaling, prayer, and slow, deep breathing exercises.
The Exhausted Parent
- Needs: Simplicity.
- Best Tools: The same three simple steps nightly.
The Night Owl
- Needs: Transitions.
- Best Tools: Screens off early, dim lighting, and a repeated calming activity to signal to the body that the day is done.
The Creative
- Needs: Beauty and meaning.
- Best Tools: Instrumental music, poetry, or prayerful reflection.
The Purpose-Driven
- Needs: Surrender rituals.
- Best Tools: A gratitude prayer and specifically naming what is being released to God for the night.
Find Your Rest Persona Quiz
Not sure which one you are? Grab a mental pen (or a real one!) and jot down the answer that feels most true, most of the time.
1. At bedtime, my biggest struggle is:
A. Finishing everything
B. Caring for others
C. Turning off my thoughts
D. Pure exhaustion
2. When I try to rest, I often feel:
A. Guilty
B. Needed
C. Anxious
D. Overstimulated
3. The thing that keeps me up most is:
A. My to-do list
B. Other people’s needs
C. Worry or overthinking
D. Noise, screens, or chaos
4. My energy is usually highest:
A. Early in the day
B. When helping others
C. When thinking or planning
D. Late at night
5. I relax best when I:
A. Finish tasks
B. Feel appreciated
C. Write or pray
D. Experience quiet or beauty
The Results
- Mostly A’s: You are The Achiever.
- Mostly B’s: You are The Caregiver.
- Mostly C’s: You are The Anxious Thinker.
- Mostly D’s: You are The Exhausted Parent or Night Owl.
(Note: You may resonate with more than one—that’s normal! We are complex people living complex lives.)
Final Encouragement
Friends, rest doesn’t just happen. It’s chosen. It’s practiced. It’s protected.
When we rest the way God designed—body, mind, and soul—we don’t just sleep better. We live better. We wake up ready to love our families and serve our communities, fueled not by caffeine and adrenaline, but by the peace of God.
Sweet dreams,
Tricia
Free Resource!
If you’re ready to trade the weight of “hustle culture” for the peace of God’s design, I would love for you to join me in this journey toward true restoration.
I’ve created a special resource called “The Gift of Rest” to help you move from exhaustion to an intentional rhythm of grace. Whether you identify as an Achiever needing closure or an Exhausted Parent seeking simplicity, this guide is designed to fit your unique temperament and season of life.
What’s Inside:
- The Theology and Science of Rest: Discover how God built rest into the fabric of creation and why your brain and body scientifically require “down-regulation” to heal.
- 10 Biblical Truths: Reminders that rest is not a reward for your hard work, but a gift to be received.
- The 5-Day Rest & Reset Challenge: Simple, daily “Rest in Action” steps—like brain-dump journaling and breath prayers—to help you reclaim your peace in just 10 to 15 minutes a day.
- Bedtime Routine Personas: Practical tools to help you create a nightly routine that actually works for you.
Stop wearing busyness like a badge of honor and start rediscovering the strength that only comes from being still.
Download “The Gift of Rest” Guide & 5-Day Challenge Here
Move from Knowing to Living
The Bible is not just a book you read—it is a connection point to God and an invitation to transformational living!
If you are looking to deepen your walk with Christ, I highly recommend the Life Application Study Bible.
Why I love it:
- It focuses on application, not just information.
- It features over 10,000 notes from scholars and pastors.
- It helps bridge the gap between ancient truths and your modern life.
Don’t just read the Word—live it out.
Footnotes
- Caroline Leaf, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2020), 87–92.
- Sharon Bergquist, Embrace the Stress (New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2021), 141–156.
- Leaf, Switch On Your Brain (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013), 112–118.
- Bergquist, Embrace the Stress, 162–170.
- Leaf, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess, 201–208.
- Bergquist, Embrace the Stress, 178–185.
- Leaf, Switch On Your Brain, 134–140.
- Bergquist, Embrace the Stress, 95–102.
- Leaf, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess, 59–65.
- Bergquist, Embrace the Stress, 211–218.
