What is Spiritual Rest? 5 Ways to Practice It
If someone were to ask you about how you make room for rest in your life, how would you answer? We know physical rest is crucial for our physical well-being. Many chronic health conditions are a result of poor physical rest. But what is spiritual rest and are we getting enough of it?
What is Spiritual Rest?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Spiritual rest is an act of trust, as we lay down our demanding to-do list and hectic schedules. We trust that God will take care of us and provide us with the strength we need to carry on. It rejuvenates and recenters us while putting control back into God’s hands. Spiritual rest balances us as we take time to remember what’s most important.
How to Practice Spiritual Rest
Jesus, our ultimate example, often withdrew to quiet places before and after ministering to the people. He rested physically and spiritually as He knew He could not fulfill His purpose without it. Therefore, we must also rest in order to fulfill our kingdom’s purpose.
Here are five ways to practice spiritual rest in your daily life.
1. Implement Sabbath Principles
In today’s culture, being a workaholic is a badge of honor. However, God did not design us for this. Scripture makes it clear that work has its place, but it shouldn’t cut into our time of rest. In fact, God modeled the importance of rest Himself during the creation account:
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
God also commanded Israel to rest as one of the Ten Commandments:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work…” – Exo. 20:8-10
To implement the practice of Sabbath in our lives, we can try scheduling reoccurring pockets of time to rest and recharge. Here are some examples:
Set aside an hour every Saturday morning before everyone else gets up to dig deep into our Bible.
Keep Sunday afternoons free to talk about spiritual things with our family.
Spend five minutes meditating on a verse before making dinner.
Whatever we do to rest spiritually, we must be intentional — even if it means adding it to your calendars or setting up a reminder on our phones.
2. Focus on Today
Yesterday and tomorrow are two fleeting, intangible concepts. Yesterday is in the past; nothing can change it. We also can’t do anything about tomorrow, because it isn’t here yet. When it arrives, it becomes today. Fixating on either concept only drains today of its strength.
This is why Jesus instructed, “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt. 6:34).
To implement this practice, stay focused on the present. Jesus modeled this for us when he prayed “give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). Spiritual rest is trusting He will provide what we need for today.
3. Release Your Burdens to God
Worry, anxiety, and fear often creep into our lives, stealing our strength without us realizing. It’s important to reflect on those negative thought patterns to determine what’s in our control versus what’s in God.
Paul instructs us to do just that:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Often, we take on burdens that aren’t ours to bear. Spiritual rest invites us to give those weights back to Him, where they belong.
4. Meditate
Meditation is similar to prayer, but not exactly the same. At its core, meditation is about stillness. In our go-go-go world, stillness is a foreign concept. However, the Psalmist teaches us that we find God’s peace in stillness and secret places:
“Be still and know I am God…” – Psalm 46:10
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” – Psalm 37:7
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1
Creating pockets of stillness is crucial for spiritual rest. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s often in those moments that we hear from God. You may find listening to guided meditation to be helpful as you begin this practice.
5. Spend Time in Nature
“The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament shows His handiwork.”
Admiring God’s beautiful creation is a great way to connect with Him and to find rest. Go on a walk and notice the variety of leaves, plants, and animals. Or try sitting quietly as you watch snow fall, noticing each snowflake’s intricate detail. Give God praise for what you see. This can be done on your own or with a friend or your family.
Science also backs the benefits of spending time in nature. It’s been shown to improve mood, relieve stress, and lessen symptoms of depression.
Find Your Spiritual Rest Rhythm
Cultivating spiritual rest in your life won’t happen overnight. Like any physical habit, it will take repetition and time to reap its benefits. Spiritual rest isn’t meant to be a rigid practice either. Ask God to help you find your rhythm of rest in whatever season you’re in right now.