COME AWAY & REST

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28

From the beginning, rest was part of God’s design. In Genesis 2:2–3, after creating the world, God rested—not because He was tired, but to set an example for us. He blessed the seventh day and made it holy, showing that rest is sacred.

1. Rest as an Invitation
Jesus invites us: “Come to me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28–29). This rest is not just physical; it’s a deep soul rest that comes from laying our burdens at His feet. In Mark 6:31, after the disciples had been ministering non-stop, Jesus said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Even in the busyness of ministry, He prioritized withdrawing for renewal.

2. Rest as Trust
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Choosing to rest means acknowledging that the world will keep spinning even if we stop working. It’s a declaration of trust that God is in control. The Israelites learned this through the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8–10), a weekly reminder that they were not slaves anymore but God’s people—free to rest because their provision came from Him.

3. Rest as Renewal
Isaiah 40:29–31 promises that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. Rest is not wasted time—it is an exchange: our weariness for His strength. Elijah experienced this in 1 Kings 19:4–8. After feeling exhausted and discouraged, God gave him sleep, food, and gentle encouragement, preparing him for the next part of his journey.

4. Rest as Protection
Without rest, our hearts grow anxious, our judgment gets clouded, and we become more vulnerable to temptation. David testified in Psalm 23:2–3, “He makes me lie down in green pastures… He restores my soul.” Rest is God’s safeguard against burnout and spiritual dryness.

Practical Ways to Rest in the Lord:

• Daily: Spend even a few minutes in silence before God, breathing deeply and meditating on His Word.
• Weekly: Honor a Sabbath rhythm—set aside a day or time for worship, reflection, and refreshing activities.
• Seasonal: Take intentional retreats or breaks to seek God’s perspective and realign with His purposes.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean for you personally to “rest in the Lord,” and how do you practice it in your daily life?
For me, resting in the Lord means stopping from striving and trusting that God is in control. It’s letting go of my anxious thoughts and allowing His presence to refresh me. I practice it by setting aside quiet moments for prayer and Scripture reading, worshipping even when I feel tired, and pausing to thank Him in the middle of my day. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a deep breath and saying, “Lord, I trust You.”

2. What obstacles keep you from truly resting, and how can you overcome them with God’s help?
The biggest obstacles for me are busyness, the feeling that I have to keep working to solve every problem, and carrying other people’s burdens as if they were my own. I overcome them by remembering that God is the “Manager of the Universe,” not me. I ask Him daily to help me surrender control, prioritize what truly matters, and learn to say no when needed so I can guard time for rest with Him.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT REST

1. Matthew 11:28–29
“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.”

2. Mark 6:31
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

3. Genesis 2:2–3
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy…”

4. Exodus 33:14
“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

5. Psalm 23:1–3
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”

6. Psalm 62:1–2
“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.”

7. Psalm 127:2
“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

8. Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

9. Isaiah 40:29–31
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles…”

10. Hebrews 4:9–10
“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.”

At OLK Ministry, Cebu

Testimony:

After a full week of ministering in LT, the Lord graciously provided us a beautiful time of rest and refreshing. We were invited by a friend to spend two nights and two days at the inclusive Tambuli Resort in Cebu. The moments we had there—enjoying good food, sweet fellowship, and swimming in the clear beach waters—brought such renewal to our bodies and spirits. Truly, it felt like the Lord Himself was restoring our strength. After our stay at the resort, we traveled up to the mountains for another two-night retreat. Surrounded by creation, with the fresh air and the beauty of nature, our hearts were lifted. We also had meaningful prayer times together with the managing missionary, which added spiritual refreshing to the physical rest we received. In the midst of it all, we experienced a typhoon that lasted about 2 hours in the early morning. Yet even there, the Lord covered us. His peace guarded us, and when it was time to return home to Manila, the skies were bright and sunny—a reminder of His faithfulness and protection. God truly knows how to restore His servants. We are grateful for His care, His presence, and His refreshing that sustains us for the work ahead.