Resting in God is something that we all desire. Here are 31 of the best Bible verses for you to find the rest you long for!
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Resting in God by observing the Sabbath
1. God Rested {Genesis 2:2}
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”
From creation, we can see the high value that God places on rest. God set an example for us, not because He needed the rest, but because He knew we would need help resting in Him.
2. God gives rest as a sign {Exodus 31:17}
“It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”
Again, the importance of resting in God is made clear to us. In the same way that God rested after He created the world, we are suppose to rest in God and be refreshed.
3. Rest can require denying yourself {Leviticus 16:30-31}
“Because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance.”
Rest is not always easy, and sometimes it requires giving up doing things that you want to get done. But rest is meant to draw us closer to God, giving us time to be in His presence.
4. Rest is for everyone {Deuteronomy 5:14}
“But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.”
God desires that everyone should rest in Him. Not just you, but those who provide services for you as well.
5. Rest is important {Leviticus 25:4}
“But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.”
Resting in God is so important, that God desired great quantities of time for His people to spend with Him. Here, there was supposed to be an entire year where no fields were planted.
Resting in God still requires work
6. Prepare to rest {Exodus 16:23}
“He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”
In order to rest on the sabbath, the Israelites had to prepare their food ahead of time. They had to consciously decide that they would take the Sabbath, and work to make sure they could.
7. Resting while working {Ruth 2:7}
She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”
Ruth was out gathering grain, but she knew that in order to gather well and not become overwhelmed, rest was needed. You can be a hard worker and still rest.
8. Rest after settling matters {Ruth 3:18}
“Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”
In the same way that Ruth knew when to work and when to rest, Boaz knew that rest would come after settling what needed to be done. There is a time to rest, and there is a tie to work.
9. Jesus offers rest {Mark 6:31}
“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.”
The disciples were working for God, yet even they needed a break to rest. It is okay to take time with God to prepare and continue working for Him.
10. Too much rest is not of God {Mark 14:41}
“Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.”
Resting in God’s presence
11. God’s presence gives rest {Exodus 33:14}
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
The Israelites had a tabernacle where God dwelled among them, giving the rest. We have a God who tabernacles among us, making it possible fore us to be resting in God all the days of our lives.
12. Resting in God’s house {1 Chronicles 22:6-10}
Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel… Solomon will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side… I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign… He is the one who will build a house for my Name.
Solomon was chosen to build the Lord’s house because he followed God’s decrees. Solomon delighted in God’s word, and because of that, he found rest.
13. Resting in the confidence of God’s presence {1 John 3:19-24}
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God… And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
We do not have to live in fear, because God gave us His Spirit and He lives in us when we choose Him. Our hearts can rest in God’s presence because He is in us.
14. Content in God’s rest {Proverbs 19:23}
The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Although God never promises that this life will be easy, He does promise rest for our weary souls when we turn to Him.
Resting in the security of God
15. God shields us {Deuteronomy 33:12}
Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.
When you delight in the Lord, you can find rest knowing that He will protect you. Resting in God means knowing that you are secure in Him.
16. Rest on every side {Joshua 21:44}
The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands.
Resting in God is possible because He gives you rest on every side. There is nowhere that you can go where He is not with you, protecting and sustaining you.
17. Rest without disaster {1 Kings 5:4}
But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.
When you are secure in the rest that God gives, you can be free from adversary and disaster because you are abiding in Him.
18. God give His people rest {Isaiah 32:18}
My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
God desires that His people live in peace, in places of undisturbed rest. Although life may have its trials, you can find yourself resting in God despite your circumstances.
19. Resting in God because you are secure {Job 11:18}
You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
When your hope comes from God, you can find rest in Him, knowing that He is in control of whatever you may be facing.
20. Rejoice because you can rest in God {Acts 2:26}
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.
Be thankful that you can rest secure because you are resting in God. Rejoice and be glad because of what the Lord has done for you!
21. Resting in God because He is our salvation {Psalm 62:1-8}
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken… Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
No matter the situation that you find yourself in, you can practice resting in God, because you know that He is your salvation.
22. Resting in God who is your shelter {Psalm 91:1-2}
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
You can rest securely in God because you know that He is your shelter. He is your refuge. He is your fortress. You can trust in Him and know that in Him, you are safe.
Resting in God’s provision
23. God provides for you future {Ruth 1:9}
May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud.
You can find rest in God knowing that when you are found in Him, taking delight in His ways, He will give you security, bringing people into your life who can help and support you.
24. Devote to resting in God {1 Chronicles 22:18-19}
“Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side?… Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God.
God gives rest to His people as they seek Him and devote themselves to them.
25. Rest in God’s deliverance {Nehemiah 9:28}
“But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.
Rest knowing that God continually delivers you, and live in the truth of God’s word. Don’t follow the example of those who do evil after entering God’s rest, but follow the example of those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Resting in God’s promises
26. Resting in God because He promises rest {1 Kings 8:56}
Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.
God promises to give His people rest. He is worthy of praise!
27. Resting in the God who defends {Jeremiah 50:34}
Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
God defends His people! You only need to choose to be resting in God, He will take care of the rest.
Resting in the Goodness of God
28. God is good {Psalm 116:7}
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
Do you know the goodness of God? His love and compassion and mercy for you? Choose to be resting in God’s goodness today!
Related post: God’s goodness and His glory revealed!
Resting in God is a choice
29. Willing to go to God {Isaiah 30:15}
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
Resting in God is a choice. God grants rest for you on every side, but you have to be willing to go to Him to receive His rest.
30. Your soul is resting in God {Matthew 11:28-30}
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
God promises that if you go to Him, you will find rest for your weary soul. So don’t delay in going to God! Choose to be resting in God today!
ultimate rest in God
31. Enter into God’s rest {Hebrews 4:1-13}
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it… Now we who have believed enter that rest… There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his… Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.
Perhaps the most powerful of these Bible verses about resting in God is found in Hebrews 4. Again and again, the author stresses the importance of entering into God’s rest.
Resting in God
My friend, do you find yourself resting in God, or are you struggling to come to rest right now? Pray and ask God for the rest that only He can give you. Be comforted by His presence in your life and the promises He has for you.
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