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The daily routine of working, along with managing and troubleshooting life, can be overwhelming at times. In fact, it often makes it hard to quiet your mind. I know that’s the case for me.
In a world where success is measured by how much you have, it’s easy to feel guilty or lazy if you’re not constantly working or planning how to acquire more. More things… more money… more success… more friends.
In this post, I’m going to talk about the importance of rest and share some of my favorite Bible verses about rest and recovery.
What is Rest?
Rest is defined as refreshing yourself from sleeping or relaxing, inactivity after exerting yourself, or rejuvenating yourself by lying down. It's also defined as alleviating weariness.
Rest is an essential part of life. It's a need, not a want.
But what is “rest,” really?
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” – Genesis 2:2
We can take a rest from a long, hard day and do something relaxing. Or, like the Bible verse states, take a rest from a work week.
But “rest” is more than taking a break from a job or physically producing something. And it's also more than that unconscious state called sleep. (Although getting enough sleep is also important. The video below shows you ways to fall asleep faster.)
We can rest or take rest from many things in our lives.
We work hard to afford what we and our loved ones need. But many of us work to buy goods and services, or afford a lifestyle, that goes beyond meeting our needs.
When we're constantly working, concerned, worried, or planning how to get what's next, we don't give our minds the quiet time our soul needs to connect with ourselves on a deeper level, God, and the God within us. We can't appreciate the here and now and all of its blessings.
Someone once told me that when the Bible was written, it was more about the future than what was going on at the time. I believe the above Bible verse refers to the importance of allowing our mind and soul to take rest, too. It means quieting our minds to find peace.
Incorporate rest into your regular routine, and when you rest, let your mind rest on the Lord.
Resting on Him means thinking about His goodness and all the ways it's manifested in the world and your life.
It means being mindful in order to experience and appreciate the world around you, and your immediate environment. When you become mindful, you become aware of all the things for which you have to be grateful.
Imagine how grateful we would be if we took time every day to rest our minds and reflect on God's goodness. Think of how rich we would feel if we carved out time to be mindful of our blessings.
This type of daily routine creates a sense of calm, peace, and gratefulness that can cultivate happiness.
Here are some Bible verses to help you rest, recover, and reflect. You work hard to give yourself and loved ones the things you deserve. Rest your body and mind, and give yourself what we all deserve: peace.
51 Bible Verses About Rest and Recovery
- “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
- “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” – Psalm 127:2
- “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8
- “And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” – Exodus 33:14
- “Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.” – Proverbs 3:23-24
- “And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.” – Isaiah 14:3
- “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:2
- “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.” – Psalm 3:5
- “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” – Isaiah 26:3
- “He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” – Mark 5:34
- “But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.” – 1 Kings 5:4
- “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” – Genesis 2:3
- “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.” – John 4:6
- “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:1-3
- “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.” – Psalm 62:1
- “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.” – Exodus 23:25
- “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” Hebrews 4:3
- “For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.” – Mark: 25-27
- “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” – Mark 4:38-39
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” – Mark 4:38-39
- “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.:” – Exodus 20:8-11
- “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” – Jeremiah 17:14
- “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord.” – Jeremiah 30:17
- “I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel's mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,' says the Lord, ‘And I will heal them.” – Isaiah 57:18-19
- “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3
- “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” – Isaiah 32:17
- “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16
- “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” – 1 Peter 4:7
- “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” – Psalms 107:20-21
- “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” – Ephesians 4:23-24
- “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” – Psalm 51:10-12
- “But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.” – Leviticus 25:4
- “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” – Luke 6:12
- “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” – Psalm 73:26
- “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” – Psalm 37:7
- “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” – Matthew 11:29
- “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
- “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24
- “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” – Matthew 9:35
- “Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” – Psalm 30:2
- “And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” – Isaiah 32:18
- “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” – Jeremiah 31:25
- “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” – Hebrews 4:9-10
- “Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.” – Exodus 34:21
- “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” – Job 37:14
- “And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” – Job 11:18
- “Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.” – Psalm 116:7
- “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” – Psalm 4:4
- “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:29-31
- “Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. – Leviticus 23:3
- “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” – Psalm 27:14
- “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
Final Thoughts on Bible Verses About Rest and Recovery
You should never feel guilty for slowing down or being still. It’s okay to “Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:1 King James Version) regularly.
Doing so can make you more thankful, which can increase your overall happiness.
And if you're looking for more Bible verses to help you cultivate thankfulness, peace, and happiness, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 55 Bible Verses About Gratitude to Be More Thankful in Life
- 41 Bible Verses About Finding Happiness & Joy in Life
- 51 Bible Verses About Living Life with Purpose
Finally, if you want to increase your happiness and life satisfaction, then watch this free video that details the 7-minute habit for planning your day to focus on what's important.
