8 Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God
I walked in the winter forest last night. On the cusp of twilight, a million snowflakes clung to the outstretched arms of the maples. Stopping to sit among them, I pulled out my Bible in search of Bible verses about finding rest in God.
With cares so heavy I hesitated to name them, I soaked in God’s words, praying for his strong arms to reach down and lift my burdens.
Instead, the hushed silence washed over me.
Refreshed me.
And when I turned to leave the forest, I felt it. The burdens were lighter.
Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God
Perhaps you need God to lift your burdens too. If so, I invite you to slowly read through these eight Bible verses about finding rest in God. He wants to replenish you.
8 Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God
1. Exodus 33:14, ESV
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
This verse is a beautiful reminder of the rest we find in God’s presence.
These words were originally spoken to Moses as he led God’s people, but they are true for us today as well. When we seek the blessing of walking in God’s presence, his presence gives a sense of peace and rest.
2. Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
We are all called to cease our endless striving, walk in peace, and find the inner stillness that can only come from trusting God.
Do you need to “be still and know that God is God?” He wants you to turn to him today. He will give you rest as you follow him.
3. Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Those of us who have received Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross have peace and lasting rest with God. When we commit to following Christ, he covers us with a peace that surpasses understanding. This peace leads us into deep soul-level rest because we no longer try to work hard enough or prove ourselves worthy of God’s love.
4. Psalm 34:8
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
God wants to be your source of refuge and strength. Where do you turn when life is hard and you feel depleted? Learn to turn to God as your refuge, and he will give you rest.
5. Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jesus promises that when we draw near to him, he gives us his rest. He wants to carry our burdens.
6. Psalm 4:8
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
I often speak this verse when I’m having trouble sleeping.
God wants to bless his children with physical rest.
Claim this promise and speak it if you have been having trouble sleeping.
7. Psalm 23:1-2
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
As a shepherd cares for his flock of sheep, God cares for each of his children. He guides us, protects us, and offers us his peace and rest.
8. Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
True rest is found when we turn to God in difficult times. When we make him our refuge and fortress, he offers us deep and replenishing rest.
Practical Ways to Apply These Bible Verses About Finding Rest in God to Our Lives
Let’s talk about practical ways to find rest in God.
1. Begin your days by resting with God for a few minutes.
Every morning, I try to take a few minutes to be still with God. I might listen to music or look out the window. The key is that I don’t try to accomplish anything. I sit in silence and let God love me.
2. Fight for margin time.
I’ve learned to fight for margin time in my days. This means I don’t intentionally fill my schedule with back-to-back commitments. I try to give myself time to pause between daily events and talk to the Lord.
A few minutes to slow down and reconnect with Jesus can change the trajectory of an entire day.
3. Create space for playful diversions.
Sadly, most of us forget to leave space to play. As a result, we are not rested, and we often feel burned out and overworked.
Instead of filling every minute with work, what if we took time to pull out board games, play tee-ball in the yard, gather around campfires with marshmallows, or splash in the nearest stream? This sort of whimsical play might just fill our souls.
4. Make it a habit of falling asleep in God’s presence.
For years, I felt guilty because my bedtime prayers always put me to sleep. In fact, if I was having trouble sleeping, I would start praying because I knew praying would help me drift off to sleep.
After feeling guilty about falling asleep when I prayed, God showed me something I’d never considered. Our oldest child, Bekah, was a toddler at the time, and she often had trouble sleeping. I would slip into her bed and hold her until she drifted off to sleep. Watching her fall asleep in my arms wasn’t a burden. It was a gift. Watching her drift peacefully to sleep filled my heart with tender love for her.
God gently showed me that this is how he feels when his children fall asleep in his arms. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to fall asleep with my thoughts focused on God and his loving arms around me.
God wants to hold you in his arms as you drift off to sleep each night. This is a healing, restful, peace-filled way to end each day. When you lie down to sleep tonight, imagine God holding you in his arms and smiling over you as you drift off to sleep in the comfort of his embrace.
Reflect:
God is the ultimate source of comfort in our lives, but it’s easy to turn to other sources for comfort.
We feel tempted to turn to friendships, food, TV, social media, and even shopping. It’s not wrong to find comfort in friendships or to relax in front of the TV with a bowl of ice cream, but if these habits become our ultimate sources of comfort, we will miss out on finding rest in God. Where do you turn for comfort at the end of a hard day? What would it look like for you to find rest in God instead?
Where do you turn for comfort at the end of a hard day? What would it look like for you to find rest in God instead? #restinGod #Godsrest #teendevotional Share on XA Free Online Devotional Book for You:
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