Living in a Rested State: Jesus’ Call to Rest

Labor Day invites us to pause and reflect on rest—not merely the absence of work, but the deep soul-rest Jesus offers to all who are weary. When He says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), He’s extending an invitation into a life sustained by His power, not our performance.

 

The Weight We Carry

Every day, many of us drag burdens:

These are the souls crying for true Sabbath rest—a rest that begins when we lay down our yoke and take up Christ’s.

• Single Parents
  Juggling work, childcare, finances, and household duties—often without robust support—can leave the heart exhausted and stretched thin.
• Caregivers for the Aging or Disabled
  The relentless cycle of appointments, treatments, and nighttime watches can erode physical strength and emotional reserves.
• Frontline Healthcare Workers
  Doctors, nurses, EMTs, and support staff bear the trauma of suffering and death daily, risking burnout as they pour out compassion.
• Students Under Performance Pressure
  From grade-point anxieties to looming standardized tests and college applications, young people carry a heavy burden of fear and expectation.
• Employees Facing Job Insecurity
  Layoffs, fluctuating markets, or toxic work cultures can breed chronic stress, eroding hope and sense of stability.
• Entrepreneurs and Small-Business Owners
  The weight of payroll, investor demands, and the “always-on” grind often steals rest and family rhythms.
• Refugees and Immigrants
  Displacement, language barriers, and cultural shocks compound grief over lost homes and the struggle to build new roots.
• People in Chronic Illness or Pain
  Daily battles with health limitations or unrelenting discomfort drain joy and magnify loneliness.
• Survivors of Trauma and Abuse
  Emotional scars and flashbacks keep them in a heightened state of vigilance, robbing their souls of peace.
• Veterans with PTSD
  Memories of conflict can make rest feel unsafe, perpetuating a cycle of anxiety and hyperarousal.

Each of these groups is invited to “draw near to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16), exchanging their crushing load for Christ’s easy yoke. By acknowledging their weariness and trusting His presence, they too can step into the Sabbath rest He promises.

 Those Carrying a More Pressing Weight

• Approval with God

There is a feeling that they are never good enough and that they cannot approach God for they feel condemned by Him.  Indeed, a person cannot work enough to earn God’s approval.  This is given as a free gift through faith in Christ.  Access to God is freely given through Jesus by faith.

• Purpose and Meaning

Chasing significance in career, ministry, or social circles, yet never feeling satisfied. 

 The Gospel Reset: Rest as a Gift, Not a Goal

Scripture proclaims that our righteousness and worth are secured by Christ’s finished work. We enter His rest not by amassing spiritual credentials, but by trusting Him completely. Justification by faith and our heavenly position in Christ remind us: rest is already ours. We only need to believe it and live from it.

Hebrews 4:9-11 tells us that there is a special rest for God’s people.

Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

We enter that rest as we trust in Christ. We lay aside our own works and take on Christ’s. 

 Five Rhythms for Rested Living

1. Anchor in Positional Rest
   Begin each morning by declaring your standing in Christ:
   “Jesus, I rest in Your finished work. I have nothing to prove, for You have secured my worth and freedom.”  A lot of stress come from too much worry over what others think. 
2. Prayer of Focus
   Shift into an attentive posture:

o    Confess His presence: “Lord, You are here with me now.”

o    Scan for His movement: “Show me what You are doing so I can join You.”

o    Surrender your day: “Use my hours, my conversations, my decisions for Your divine appointments.”

o    Surrender your stress and worry: “Father, my problems are your problems!  I release all of this to you (because you care for me—1 Peter 5:7)”  Let them go.

3. Confession of Faith in His Promise
   Live by faith, not feelings:
   “I may not sense You, but I trust You never leave me. Thank You, Jesus, for being with me today.”
   Let this truth guide every choice you make.
4. Prayer for Alertness
   Remain sensitive to His voice in the ordinary:
   “Help me not to miss what You’re doing. Give me eyes to see Your invitations in each moment.”

Be ready to follow Him in what He is doing at that moment.

5.    Take Breaks in the following 5 areas for Emotional, Social, Sensory, Physical and Mental                       Rest

      You need to “Come apart before you fall apart”.  God is the only one who does not need rest—               confess the truth that you are not God and take a break! Sometimes you need a long break,                     sometimes you need a short break.  Put some breaks into your day and week for rest.  Ignoring              such breaks will have significant consequences in the future.  You stop and take a break now or             you will break and have to stop later.  Either way you will need to stop and rest.

Walking in True Sabbath Rest

By rooting ourselves in Christ’s completed work, embracing our heavenly position, and joining God in His ongoing activity, we unlock a rhythm of work and rest that mirrors the divine pattern. We labor without anxiety—because His grace carries our heaviest loads—and we walk with purpose, alert to every move of His Spirit.

Give yourself permission to Sabbath.  How will you practice these today or tomorrow, so that instead of dragging your own burden, you discover the lightness of Christ’s yoke and the joy of divine appointments?