You’re too busy to think about how busy you are.

Every time you think you’ll have a moment of peace, something comes up—a deadline gets pushed up at work, someone at church needs you to fill in for Sunday School, your kids ask for your advice and you’re the only one who can help them.

So you keep pushing off that much-needed rest. You tell yourself you’ll find time soon, but it never comes. You feel like you’re on the verge of getting seriously sick. You used to love being there for others. Now, helping the people you love leaves you feeling empty, resentful, and anxious. But you don’t know what else to do.

It’s hard to say no when people need you. You might feel guilty saying yes to resting when you could say yes to helping someone. But the Bible tells us it is good to rest. To show us how seriously he takes the need for rest, God himself rested after creating the universe—and then commanded us to rest, too (Exodus 20:8-10).

Finding Time to Rest

I encourage you to take some time to build rest into your busy schedule. Block off your calendar for an hour to settle your breathing, close your eyes, and talk to God. Or take a walk around your neighborhood while listening to some of your favorite worship music. I invite you to schedule some time to rest. When you’re well-rested and spiritually satisfied, you can love everyone else around you even better. Before you ask God to show you how you can rest well, discover what God’s Word has to say about rest:

Matthew 11:28-29

Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.

Psalm 127:2

It is useless to work so hard for a living,
   getting up early and going to bed late.
For the Lord provides for those he loves,
   while they are asleep.

Psalm 4:8

When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace;
   you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.

Isaiah 30:15a

The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says to the people, “Come back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure.”

Jeremiah 31:25

I will refresh those who are weary and will satisfy with food everyone who is weak from hunger.