Give Thanks in Rest
Open Your Bible
Exodus 20:8-11, Numbers 6:22-27, Micah 4:1-5, Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 11:25-30
BY Rachael Wade
While we’ve read that God cares about the work of our hands, He also cares about our rest. Personally, my wiring, upbringing, and the fast-paced world we live in have made resting quite a struggle. If you find yourself in the same boat, let’s be reminded that work is not a bad thing. God created human beings with the mission of ruling and caring for creation. In that, He also created rest. As human beings we were created to do both.
The struggle to rest is real. King Solomon reminds us in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the LORD builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the LORD watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.” God’s leading our work will always be the best way. When I don’t rest and allow God to be God, more stress, anxiety, worry, and tiredness follow.
But being made in God’s image means we can also rest, as God did, giving thanks for the work He has given while also knowing that our heavenly Father is “before all things, and by Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). We can mimic our Maker by declaring our Sabbath day, our time of rest, as blessed and holy. In Luke 10:38–42, Martha was distracted by her many tasks and became angry when her sister Mary wasn’t helping with them. Jesus reminded Martha—and it’s a helpful reminder for us today—that even the holiest of assignments should be reassessed if their importance outweighs resting at the feet of Jesus and spending quality time with Him. What would it look like to not have to come to the end of ourselves before we decide to take a break? Can we choose to structure our calendars where our bodies are at rest and we’re able to recount God’s goodness and faithfulness? Because all things have been entrusted to Him, we can rest from our God-given work and leave the heavy load and lifting to the One who is all-powerful.
As followers of Jesus, we are to be set apart. One of the ways we differentiate ourselves from the world we live in is to pause our work and receive rest for our souls and physical bodies. What if we saw our rest as worship instead of weakness? As we turn toward God and His face shines on us and brings peace (Numbers 6:24–26), may we accept the gift of an easy yoke (Matthew 11:28–30), giving thanks as we physically rest from the work of our hands.
50 thoughts on "Give Thanks in Rest"
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This stood out to me “Because all things have been entrusted to Him, we can rest.” My daughter has been sick, my husband has been sick (nothing serious, just colds), and I am 6 months pregnant with all of the physical ups and downs that brings. I feel like I’ve been exerting so much effort to try to keep things running smoothly and sticking to plans we already made while navigating all of that instead of entrusting it all to God and resting in the knowledge that nothing is unplanned to Him. I want everyone to be healthy now! I want to feel 100% so I can check off everything on my to do list! I want all of our plans to be executed flawlessly! But I can trust God with all of it and rest in his timing. I am grateful no ones illnesses have been serious, they will all recover for as long as they need. Nothing on my to do list is ever as critical as I make it seem in my mind. Plans may fail but God never will. Whether I work and worry over all these things or trust God and rest in the truth that He is in control, the outcome is the same, it’s just much less stressful His way.
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❤️
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Happy Thanksgiving to my sweet US sisters. (And happy day to all my other sweet sisters!)
I was supposed to get up at five to go do a “Turkey Trot” with a friend. I set my alarm by mistake for SATURDAY, and woke up at 5:45 instead, so I didn’t get my lesson done this morning. So, here I am now.
I read a book titled “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver. I need to read it again, but I. Don’t. Have. Time. Heeheehee! I struggle SO MUCH to be more like Mary, but sadly I’m more like Martha. I know many of you can also sadly relate to that.
I need to remember that rest is worship.
Hope your day was restful!
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Thank you God for Thanks-Giving. Thank you God that today is also my 21st wedding anniversary. I worked hard at meal prepping today for our family meal with my mom. My CIDP Kicked my butt today. (It’s an autoimmune disease involving severe peripheral neuropathy….long story) it was a good kind of tired and exhaustion. Once I rested after clean up I am grateful to be able to read The Word and rest my body too. I get widespread chronic pain but I Thank God that I no longer walk assisted by a cane or walker. It’s good to let others rest as well even when it seams that we are doing everything and they are not. God will see to it that we get what we need when we need it. He blesses the work and blessed the r and r. Thank you Jeus for a good day with my family. Love and hugs my SRT team!!
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Good evening! Happy Thanksgiving! I can’t even remember if I commented this morning after I read the scriptures and devotionals, and comments :/ Hope you all had a joyous and blessed day regardless if it was big or small, or just another blessed day as in my case! It could have been better, but I have lots to be grateful for today and everyday despite the circumstances!! We had a beautiful time at jail ministry yesterday! We only had 4 ladies, but they got to share their feelings and then we sang and praised the Lord! Nothing warms my heart then seeing these ladies lift their hands and sing despite where their life has landed.
@Michelle- thanks for your prayer, that was beautiful! We are so blessed to have you! And @Mercy, for “missing me” fuzzy heart emoji!
@GramsieSue and @Lynn–many prayers always for your trying times. -
Thank you Heavenly Father for the ability to rest❤️
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Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! This devotional is so helpful for today. There is so many things to do today, but I am choosing right now to rest at his feet. I’m trying to fight to not feel guilty about resting at Jesus’ feet and spending time with him.
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Happy Thanksgiving ladies! Thankful for you all! Spending Thanksgiving in Wyoming and we woke up to a TON of snow! Wish I could post a picture for you all. Praying for you all today.
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