Biblical rest can seem elusive but is necessary to understand in a world that applauds hustle.
One of my Freedom Coaching clients shared their story about how stuck they felt in life. Nothing was particularly wrong, and life was chugging along. But things were too calm, and they wondered when the next shoe was going to drop. When something did come up, they felt a lot more anxiety than was warranted by the situation. They had been a mature believer for a long time, and yet felt disconnected and struggled with things that they felt they shouldn’t be.
I can often sense what’s spiritually going on with someone fairly quickly during a call. I’ve seen patterns and have watched God set people free by understanding how their past has hard-wired their nervous system to avoid rest.
Events in childhood can have a traumatic impact on how we interact with the world around us as adults. We move on and say, “I’m okay.” In fact, the body keeps track of all the things you experience and puts the meaning of them into the subconscious. And when something similar arises, the warning center of the brain responds to help us avoid that painful thing again. Often, it’s not helpful because it’s not the same thing, and you aren’t a helpless child anymore.
This interrupts our peace and rest.
Seeking Shalom, Not Peace
Shalom, often translated as peace, encompasses far more—it’s about living in harmony with God’s intended design for us. It includes knowing how much we are loved and called to our purpose. When we experience shalom, we are experiencing the goodness of God, no matter the circumstances.
In the midst of our busy lives, the concept of rest often seems elusive. Yet, as believers, God calls us to a rest that goes beyond mere relaxation—it’s about entering into His peace and presence. That kind of shalom (rest, peace) is a gift from God and cannot be manufactured because you slept in or went on vacation. In fact, Hebrews 4:11 encourages us to “strive to enter that rest,” reminding us that true rest isn’t laziness but essential self-care that we must fight for.
Why Is Rest Disrupted?
The enemy knows that if he can keep us distracted, we will miss shalom. And if we are busy trying to achieve peace, then we are focused on what is happening around us, thinking that it will solve the issues within us.
He starts with something painful we went through—an event or season that shaped our belief system about who God is, what we can expect from caregivers, where we belong (or don’t), or what we need to do to stay safe. We form agreements with what the enemy whispers to us, and they form our deep-rooted beliefs. Mine was, my needs don’t matter. (I wrote about it in a blog post.)
How Does Unrest Impact Us?
When we are not at rest, peace, or shalom, we have an inner dialogue with fear, shame, and resentment because we can’t keep up with the demands we put on ourselves. We betray ourselves by not listening to how our bodies or minds ask for help. Being mad at ourselves manifests as trying harder but failing more, or ignoring the cry for help while crying more. It creates a disconnection with ourselves because we don’t feel safe in our own skin.
We also begin to not trust others. That disconnection makes us feel isolated and causes us to project that onto others, assuming they are the cause of our unrest.
Our nervous systems are just trying to keep us safe. And like the age that came into agreement with a belief, you respond like a hurt child instead of a wise, competent, and healed adult.
Acronym And Activation For Rest: R.E.S.T.
R – Reflect on God’s Goodness: Begin by reflecting on how God has shown His goodness in your life. Thank Him for the time you sensed His presence. This sets the foundation for shalom.
E – Explore the Root: Identify what happened in your life that may have caused your current unrest. For example, you can ask God to show you when you first came into agreement with ___ (hustle, shame, or busyness, etc).
S – Search for Lies: Uncover deep-rooted lies, inner vows, judgments, or beliefs that don’t align with God’s truth by asking God to show you these things. Repent and renounce those lies.
T – Transform by Listening for God’s Response: Invite God to respond to your reflections and explorations. Let him reveal the truth to you and give you wisdom. Listen to His voice as He leads you towards true shalom by doing (or not doing) what he shows you.
Practical Tips for Entering Rest
- Daily Quiet Time: Set aside intentional moments each day to spend in prayer and communion with God. (Use the R.E.S.T. Model)
- Release Control: Surrender worries and anxieties to God through prayer and meditation on His Word. (Phil 4)
- Seek Community: Surround yourself with supportive relationships that encourage spiritual growth and accountability.
Biblical Rest
My prayer for you is to find shalom rest for your soul.
When our rest has been interrupted for a prolonged period, we may need to grieve the losses. There has been a cost that you either chose to pay or have paid unintentionally. Maybe you need to be with God and have a good cry. Or you may need to spend time with a loved one and have fun. Both of those things regulate and reset your nervous system. When your body learns that you will no longer betray yourself, it can also bring healing on a spiritual level because you’re open to responding in a different way.
Finding Biblical rest is a journey of discovery—one that requires us to align our hearts with God’s peace and presence. As we reflect, explore, search, and transform, we open ourselves to the shalom that surpasses all understanding.
Let’s strive together to enter God’s rest, knowing that in Him, we find true peace and restoration.
