7 Benefits of Rest as Modeled by Jesus

Jesus often went to quiet places to pray with God. 

Luke 5:16 records: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” 

Jesus knew that to stay strong, he needed to talk to his Father. It’s easy to forget about our relationship with God when we're busy. But just like Jesus, we need to set aside time to connect with our Heavenly Father. 

We can do so by praying, reading the Bible, or just sitting quietly in meditation and listening to God’s voice. Jesus regularly made space in his schedule to go someplace quiet by himself and connect with the Father. Those prayer times helped Jesus align his human will with his will as God’s Son and receive the power needed to fulfill his earthly mission. 

Just like a phone must be plugged in to recharge, our spirits require regular “plugging in” through prayer and meditation to be well. Jesus rested in ways that helped him connect deeply with God’s heart and mind. He didn’t rush his conversations with God; he made them a high priority regularly – no matter how busy he was with his important work. By following Jesus' example of connecting with God, we can create intentional spaces for enjoying deep conversations with our Heavenly Father.

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Sometimes, we feel confused or overwhelmed. Jesus knew those feelings, too. After hearing about the death of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew to rest. 

Matthew 14:13 says: “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” 

He needed time to process his emotions and gain perspective to think clearly. When we’re stressed, it’s hard to make good decisions. When we rest, we can think more clearly, solve problems better, and make wiser choices. 

The sudden news of John the Baptist’s violent death could have easily derailed Jesus, but he recognized the importance of stepping away to think clearly instead of just reacting. 

In our lives, rest allows us to step back from the immediate pressure in a challenging situation and take the time to discern what God is leading us to do. The constant influx of information and demands in our busy lives can overwhelm us, leading to mental fatigue. 

Rest is a mental reset, allowing our minds to declutter and reorganize. Just as a computer needs to defragment its hard drive to operate efficiently, our human minds need rest periods to optimize their processing power. Rest helps us create space for clearer thinking to make wise decisions.

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Like we do, Jesus felt human emotions like sadness and anger during his earthly life. The constant pressure of helping people and dealing with their problems took a toll on him, and he needed time to rest and recover emotionally. 

Mark 6:31 tells us about Jesus and his disciples: “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” 

Jesus knew that his disciples were also tired and needed a break. He cared about their emotional well-being. Jesus understood that his work relieving human suffering, fighting spiritual warfare, and constantly pouring love and healing out to people could lead to emotional exhaustion. 

By resting regularly, Jesus showed that rest isn’t a selfish indulgence but a vital priority to serve others well. In our lives, we can – and should – be honest about our emotional limits and set emotional boundaries for healthy relationships and service. 

Rest allows us to process and heal from emotional wounds, as well. The pressures of our daily lives can accumulate to the point that we struggle with burnout. Rest helps us release pent-up emotions and process them so we can find healthy ways to cope and receive the renewal and revival that Jesus wants us to enjoy.

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Jesus got tired, too. Mark 4:38 describes Jesus sleeping on a boat: “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.” Even the Son of God needed sleep. 

Our bodies are designed to need rest. When we sleep, our bodies repair themselves and prepare for the next day. When we don't get enough rest, we feel tired, weak, and irritable. We might have trouble concentrating, and we’re more likely to get sick than we are if we get enough rest. 

Getting enough sleep is like giving our bodies the fuel they need to run smoothly. When our bodies are well-rested, we can focus well, which is essential for our relationships with God. Sleep benefits us physically and spiritually since our bodies and souls are connected. 

Jesus took the time he needed to sleep well during his earthly life, and we should do the same. Jesus’ example reminds us that physical rest is not a sign of weakness but a need for everyone with a human body and a vital part of maintaining our well-being. When we rest so our bodies recover from the stress of each day, we can live each day God gives us to the fullest.

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Jesus often spent time with his disciples, sharing relaxed meals and talking. These restful times helped them become closer to each other. 

Mark 3:7 records: “Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.” 

Even with crowds around, Jesus made time for his friends. Rest allowed them to share unrushed meals and conversations by the lake. That helped them build trust and encourage each other. Being able to rest together strengthened the disciples’ relationships with Jesus and with each other. 

Sharing moments of rest with other people also helps us build stronger relationships. In our lives, we can make time or rest with loved ones into our schedules to enjoy talking and listening well to each other, which will help us connect in deeper ways. 

The hurried pace of our daily lives often leaves little room for meaningful conversations with our friends and family members. But when we share restful experiences – like a quiet evening at home or a leisurely walk in nature – we can release the pressure of feeling rushed and enjoy conversations that help us connect well.

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Jesus often went to quiet places in nature to pray, and the creation reflects the wonder of the Creator’s work. In his teachings, Jesus usually directed people’s attention to what they could learn about God from something natural God had made. 

For example, Jesus says in Matthew 6:26-28: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? By worrying, can any one of you add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.” 

Jesus wants us to slow down and appreciate God’s creation. Jesus used the natural world to talk about how God cares for us so we can rest in God’s care instead of worrying that our needs won’t be met. We don’t have to exhaust ourselves with worry or work without breaks to get what we need. We can rely on God daily and rest in the reality that God cares and will provide for us. 

The more we see the wonder of God’s work in our lives, the more we can trust God to provide what we need. We can discover God’s wonder every day by including time in our daily schedules to spend some restful time in nature, letting ourselves be inspired by awe when we see glimpses of God’s work, and letting those feelings of awe expand our perspective so we can trust God in deeper ways.

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Jesus knew that to help others, he needed to take care of himself. After resting, he returned to the crowds of people he ministered to with renewed energy. Jesus prioritized his well-being so he could serve other people to the fullest. 

Resting benefits other people as well as ourselves because resting helps us serve others. When we’re rested, we have more energy, patience, and compassion. When tired and stressed, we’re more likely to resist God’s efforts to motivate us to help others in need. But when we’ve had enough rest, we can say “yes” to God when he calls us to help people and serve them well. 

Rest helps us be better friends, family members, and servants of God. Just like we have to fill up a watering can to be able to water our gardens, we need to fill ourselves up with rest so we can pour out loving service to others. The heavy demands of ministry or caregiving can lead to burnout if we don’t rest regularly. 

Resting creates space in our lives for God to guide us and empower us in fresh ways so we can continue our important service work well. As Isaiah 40:31 points out: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” As we rest while trusting God, we’ll find the renewed strength we need in our relationships with God.

Jesus showed us that rest is not a luxury but a necessity. We need to schedule rest time in our schedules regularly. Rest helps us connect with God, think clearly, feel better emotionally, recover physically, build relationships, see God's wonder, and serve others better. Let's follow Jesus’ example and prioritize rest in our busy lives!

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