Bible Verses About Rest & Relaxing

God is very much concerned about our overall well-being and, ultimately, the saving of our souls. Rest, both physically and spiritually, helps us create a balance between self-care and walking in the footsteps of the Master. Resting in Jesus is a theme that runs throughout the Bible and is presented from several angles.

This means that God wants us to rest in Him so that we can ultimately find His peace that will lead us into eternal rest with Him. Today we will explore different aspects of rest and how each can bring us into a saving relationship with our creator.

Bible verses about Rest and Refreshment

Rest in any form should not just be a mere act of not doing any activity. It should cause your mind, body, and soul to be refreshed and ultimately be restored so that your mind can be ready to take on new challenges. Scripture constantly reminds us of the power of a restful and refreshed mind. Let us examine a few of these scriptures and see how they help keep our minds steadfast.

1. “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” Jeremiah 31:25 NKJV

When weariness causes us to become weak and drained, God is willing and able to refresh us and satisfy each need that would have resulted from us being tired and weary.

This comfort is also seen as the Psalmist David declares in Psalm 94:19 that when the cares of his heart are many, God’s consolations cheer his soul. Therefore, for him, it was not just rest but a new kind of feeling coming out of this period of refreshing.

2. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

The prophet here keeps in focus just how important it is to stay in tune with God so that we can always feel refreshed by the peace of God. Perfect rest comes when our minds remain on Jesus Christ. To receive the kind of rest that will restore our souls, we must trust in God consistently, and He (God) then will keep us in perfect peace.

This refreshment is possible because Ephesians 2:14 also declares that ‘He Himself is our peace and he has broken down the middle wall of separation.’ We, therefore, have no barrier which hinders us from this ideal.

3. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NKJV

This prayer by Paul brings home the idea to Christians everywhere about being filled with a hope that provides contentment even amid chaos. The power from the Holy Spirit will then overflow in your life and cause a refreshing, which causes permanent peace.

The kind of refreshing we get from the power of the Holy Spirit is not carnal; it is eternal as we see also in John 14:27 when Jesus says, ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you…’.

4. “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19 NKJV

Life can throw so many things at us, which causes our heart to feel burdened, but God’s comfort makes our entire being respond differently to these cares. We can rest in the assurance that God’s words will bring us sustenance to carry us through any difficulty.

When we are genuinely refreshed in Christ, nothing will cause us to stumble. Habakkuk 3:18 similarly highlights this thought as it states, '…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

5. “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” Genesis 2:2 NKJV

God did so much during the week of creation, and he then rested at the end of this work period on the seventh day to further acknowledge that what was created was amazing. Our lives are filled with so many things that need to be accomplished. As Christ did, so should we: pause from our labor for that refreshing.

Hebrews 4:4 tells us, 'For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." After creation ended and everything 'was good,' God set an example for us that we should come apart and refresh our souls at the end of a week filled with work and toils.

Bible verses about Rest and Relaxation

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, there is evidence of Jesus leaving the crowd and the responsibilities to relax. A part of improving our body’s function is finding time for relaxation.

Sometimes we have to move away into a quiet and secluded environment so that rest can really take place. The scriptures below reveal the necessity of relaxation in the process of rest regardless of the task you are undertaking.

1. “And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 NKJV

In God's presence, there is rest because He says He will provide the opportunity for you to be still. When you approach Him through prayer, your soul will be calm, and the troubles that often cause you to be overwhelmed will fade.

This is a profound verse about what God offers us once we are in His presence with a certain expectancy and hope. This promise came to life also in Joshua 22:4, "And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as He promised them, you may return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan."

2. “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”- Psalm 131:2 NKJV

The Psalmist David highlights that he has found intentional solace in his present state. He can enjoy what he has because he is no longer dependent on anything to give him peace. He, therefore, humbles himself in this fact. In God, we can rest on a promise of quietness.

Similar confidence is shared in Isaiah 30:5 as it declares, 'For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

3. “Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense, I shall not be greatly moved” -Psalm 62:1-2 NKJV.

During David's journey, he had many restless moments, and this verse reveals one such moment. When we silently wait for God, we find ourselves in a quiet place of reflection.

This place and attitude is one that truly makes us calm in such a way that our mind is unbothered. We have nothing to fear from the enemy or this world because we know where we can find relaxation.

Peter also creates the idea of solace and confidence in 1 Peter 5: 7 ‘casting all our cares upon Him, for He cares for you.’ When there is a place to transfer our anxieties, nothing can bother our souls.

4. “And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” Mark 6:31 NKJV

The demand of calling men and women to repentance caused the disciples to ignore their physical needs; to eat, sleep and recuperate.

Jesus knew this was necessary for them to be effective as he too had those days, so he told them to take themselves away from the crowd and get some rest. We often run the risk of destroying ourselves to accomplish impressive and important feats, but we are reminded of the importance of moving to a quiet place for rest.

Similarly, we see in Matthew 14:13 when Jesus had to ‘run’ away from the crowd, ‘When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.’ It is necessary to take a break from it all just for yourself.

5. “Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.”- Psalm 116:7 NKJV

Throughout the book of Psalm, we are constantly reminded to be at rest or return to rest. This assurance is not because of hope in this world or its offerings but because of what God has done for and in us. We can relax in a way that lingers into eternity because God has been faithful in all areas.

Our souls ‘wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.’ Our confidence comes as we silently, away from the noise and weight of this world, with our 'hope as an anchor…enter the inner sanctuary.

Bible verses about Rest and Renewal

Situations and events often interrupt the normal flow of things in our lives -our Christian walk is no different. However, when this interruption occurs, we know we can always rely on a God who is deeply concerned about the things that trouble us.

He says we are to lay aside every weight that so easily beset us. Let us walk through these scriptures and understand what renewal means as we rest in God.

1. “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:30-31 NKJV.

It doesn’t matter how fit and energetic you are; you will become tired and feel like you cannot go on at some point or another.

However, this verse reminds us that once our faith is in the Lord, our strength will be restored, and we will carry on and accomplish our goals in a greater way. This promise is a recurring theme throughout the Bible as Lamentation 3:25 tells us, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”

2. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” - Psalm 51:10-12

Only when our heart is pure can we be assured of a place in the Kingdom of God. This prayer asks for a renewed and steadfast spirit so that guilt and sin will not take them away from God's presence.

Sometimes we lose sight of where we have been, and the cry to bring back what was lost is being requested in this prayer. If this renewal does not happen, then we will not be sustained.

A similar idea is established in Ezekiel 11:19 as it says, “Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,”

3. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” - Ephesians 4:22-24

For true renewal to occur, you must put aside the things that would cause you to displease God. There has to be an attitude change that will make us more like what God would have us be, true and holy. Everything that you would do while you were in sin will have to change by the power of the indwelling Christ.

Paul in Romans knew about this idea so much as we see him declaring in Romans 12: 2 that we should not '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.'

4. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”- 2 Corinthians 4:16

As soon as we are born, we know we are dying daily because of sin. We also understand that our bodies are rotting, becoming weak and unattractive as the days progress because 'He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.'

Even though the flesh is fading, God equips our soul with all that it needs. Colossians 3:10 tells us, '...and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.’ This renewal is a more lasting treasure than this mortal body.

Bible verses about Rest and Sleep

One of the most rewarding activities for our bodies is sleep. As humans, we must sleep, and if we do not sleep, then we will die. There is a direct relation between rest and sleep, and we will never actually sleep if we are not at rest in our hearts and mind. Journey with me through these verses as we explore sleep and rest.

1. “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.”- Psalm 3:5

David here was in a place where he was being mocked, and persons were scheming to destroy him. Yet David's trust in God has him declaring that he can sleep and know he will see another day not of his own merits but by the merits of God.

This Psalm reminds us so beautifully how God provides for us everything we need – rest and sleep – even when our enemies are at our gates.

Leviticus 26:6 sustains this idea of how God provides sleep amid danger, "I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land.'

2. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”- Psalm 4:8

The confidence that comes with this verse does not come by mere hearing about God. David experiences God for himself and can declare with confidence that his sleep will not be disrupted. He will close his eyes and not worry because the God of the universe protects him.

All that is bothering him, all that is bothering us should not cause us to lose sleep as we are safe. Job 11:19 similarly highlights this assurance of David, “You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favour.”

3. “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.”- Psalm 127:2 NKJV

This verse does not suggest that we are not to work or not to work hard. Instead, it highlights that sleep is a precious gift that comes with peace and confidence in God and that sleep is better than working every day all day without rest. If God grants sleep to those he loves, then sleep is a gift from God.

Sleep rejuvenates the body and gives us new thoughts. Ecclesiastes 6:7 gives us a sad reality and helps us see that it is better to treasure our sleep because, 'All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.'

4. “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.” - Proverbs 3:24 NKJV.

There are days when we just cannot sleep. Our eyes are heavy, but because of the fears and anxieties around us, we simply cannot close our eyes to sleep even when we are Christians. However, the promise from the Lord rests our hearts, and we are assured that we have nothing to worry about and we will fall asleep quickly once we are living in obedience to God’s will.

If we believe that the Lord will be with us 'always' – Matthew 28:20, then sleep comes more effortless, and the benefits of sleep are felt in our bodies. Also, Proverbs 3:23 cements the idea that when we follow God's wisdom, ' we will be kept from stumbling.'

5. “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.”- Ecclesiastes 5:12 NKJV.

We see here in Ecclesiastes where having enough to satisfy one's need is not denounced if all is done in temperance and according to the will of God. If you are not at peace with God, then your riches will never cause you to sleep, and you will be kept awake thinking about what you have done or have not done.

There has to be a delicate balance. Otherwise, we will find ourselves working but not enjoying our rewards because our riches are bound on earth where we know moth and rust can destroy and thieves can break in and steal (Matthew 6:20).

Bible verses about Resting in Peace

Many of the Bible verse about rest and peace comes from the Book of Psalm. This is so because David had so many difficulties in his life. He had riches, experienced much fear and anxieties, fell from grace, and needed redemption and restoration.

Without having the assurance of being able to rest in peace, David would not have been true to his name of being a man after God's own heart. The Bible verses below will highlight how resting in peace has its rewards.

1. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 NKJV.

Jesus here gives concrete assurance that peace is available in Himself. There are problems from every side in this life, but He is already victorious, and our salvation is real because of this. His death, burial, and resurrection are a testament to this victory, so there is no need to feel defeated.

Corinthians 2:14 reveals a similar truth, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."

2. “Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk-in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”- Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV

Jeremiah is considered the weeping prophet because he always called men to repent and remember the God of their forefathers, but the message was often rejected.

The people failed to walk in the paths he would have pointed them towards. The path that was being presented here was a path of eternal rest.

We see a similar idea coming out of Matthew 11:29, which says, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Rest for your souls means resting in a peace that passes all understanding.

3. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.” - Ecclesiastes 12:7 NKJV

God in His wisdom made us with His hands, and we not only think about resting in peace in this mortal state, but we think of peace in the world to come.

When we die, our breath goes back to God who gave it to us, and because of our relationship with Him, we are at peace at our death that we will enter into His eternal rest at His appearing. Luke 23: 46 tells us, “Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.

And when He had said this, He breathed His last.” Similarly, Stephen had the peace of eternal when he knew he was going to die. Acts 7:59, “While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

4. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 NKJV

Paul comforts us Christians while we live and exists now that we have a hope that burns for those who die in Christ. Christ was separated from His disciples at His death, but His resurrection reminds us that there is hope beyond the grave.

Those who die now in Christ will live again as 2 Corinthians 4:14 admonishes, “Knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.” ‘Christ died and returned to life so that 'He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.’

5. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”- Luke 16:24 NKJV.

This analogy here is that one man did not live his life according to the principles of God, and as such, he will ultimately receive a reward of turmoil and torment.

The destruction of the wicked will not be tolerable. How do we escape this? We have to ensure we find peace in Christ while living, for God will have to judge us without mercy. When we rest in peace, we will never hear the words as revealed in Matthew 25:41

“Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can appreciate that God is concerned about the whole man, and he wants us to enjoy physical, mental, and spiritual rest. Physical rest allows us to perform at our optimum and be in good health with restored energy and better concentration levels.

Spiritual rest affords us the peace that surpasses all understanding. Make time for rest so that you can prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.