Resting in Him While Working

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Jesus said this to people who were working hard. He wasn't telling them to quit their jobs. He was offering them a different way to work—from rest instead of toward rest.

The Busyness Trap

I used to believe busyness proved my value. If my calendar was full, my inbox overflowing, my mind racing with all I had to do—that meant I was important, productive, needed.

But I was exhausted. And ironically, despite all that motion, I wasn't bearing much fruit. I was busy, but not effective.

What Jesus Offers

When Jesus invites us to rest, He's not asking us to be lazy. He's inviting us to a different posture in our work.

Working from rest, not toward it: Most of us work hard hoping to rest later. Jesus says to rest first—in Him—and work from that place of rest.

Abiding, not striving: The branch doesn't strain to produce fruit. It abides in the vine, and fruit comes naturally. We're meant to abide in Christ and let Him produce fruit through us.

Peace in the midst of activity: Rest isn't the absence of work. It's the presence of peace while we work. It's an internal stillness even when externally we're busy.

How to Work From Rest

This takes practice. Our default is to strive. But here's what it looks like:

Start your day with Him: Before you dive into tasks, spend time in His presence. Let Him fill you. Then work flows from that fullness rather than from empty striving.

Work at a sustainable pace: Constant rushing is a sign we're not trusting God with our time. Sometimes going slower and more peacefully produces better results than frantic urgency.

Take regular pauses: Build margin into your day. Even brief moments to breathe, pray, refocus. These aren't wasted time—they're how you maintain the inner rest Jesus offers.

Let go of what only you can carry: We carry burdens God never meant us to bear. Cast your anxieties on Him. He cares for you, and He's more capable of handling them than you are.

Trust His timing: We rush because we fear things won't get done. But God isn't rushed. When we trust His timing, we can work with peace instead of panic.

The Fruit

When you learn to work from rest in Christ:

You're more effective because you're not driven by anxiety. You make clearer decisions. You focus on what matters most.

You have energy that sustains. You're not constantly depleted because you're drawing from Him, not just from yourself.

People around you sense something different. There's a peace on you that's attractive. Your work bears fruit that points to Him.

And most importantly, you're living in communion with Christ, not just working for Him.

Today

Are you exhausted from striving? Jesus invites you to rest in Him.

This doesn't mean stopping all work. It means changing how you work—from a place of rest in Him rather than anxious striving.

Take Him at His word: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Start there. Work from there. Rest in Him.