The abundance of short, simple devotionals can be hard to sort through. Finding time each day to study the Bible can be tough, so we’ve compiled some good Bible verses to reflect on through verse reflections like this from Christian writers. Join us in learning about why the Bible matters and how God can speak to us through it.
Finding Rest in God
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Written by Trevor Tarantowski
You wouldn’t mistake me for someone who’s into “hustle and grind” culture. I love really slow mornings, coming to a complete stop at stop signs, and I’m usually 5 minutes late. And yet, lately I’ve been hearing Jesus inviting me into rest.
I often mistake the absence of productive activity with rest, and I’m now realizing they’re not the same thing. Here’s an example: After a long day, I want some “me time” to recharge. My first instinct is to reach for my phone. What do I find? Texts from the group chat, Instagram inviting me to doomscroll, reminders, emails, and LinkedIn telling me I appeared in 4 searches. Not exactly restful.
Every scroll keeps me awake, even though I’m tired and in bed. I resonate with Paul, who says, “Oh, what a wretched man I am! …For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Rom. 7:15). Dramatic? Maybe. But, I feel you, Paul.
Rest isn’t my default. Left to my own devices, I’ll entertain and distract myself into oblivion. I need rules. I need Sabbath.
I started creating some rules to allow myself to breathe deep and for God to refresh my soul. It started with putting my phone to bed. For a week, I put my phone to bed at 10:25, 5 minutes before I went to bed. The next week, 10:20. My dream is to work back 5 minutes at a time to 9:00. The second thing I began was practicing Sabbath on Sundays—turning off my phone, and only doing things that fell into these categories: rest, worship, or delight.
Why It Matters
These simple practices have given me a few unexpected gifts:
- Actual rest. Deep, soul-level peace in the way I think Jesus meant when he said “Come to me… and you will find rest.”
- Humility. Ultimately, my struggle in avoiding rest was a struggle with pride. “I can do it all.” “I can fit this in.” “If I get this done now, I won’t have to worry about it tomorrow.”
- Contentment. Limiting my activities on Sundays has elevated my appreciation for what I do decide to enjoy. This cup of coffee, this book, this meal with friends—all of this is enough. “I shall not want.” I have all that I need.
These short simple devotions are a great way to connect with God each day. Visit this page to find more good Bible verses to reflect on!
