📖 “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15
Rest as Resistance: A Holy Rebellion Against a Culture of Busyness
In a world that idolises hustle and glorifies exhaustion, choosing rest can feel like treason. But I’ve come to believe — deep in my bones — that rest is not laziness. It is a sacred act of defiance. It is resistance.
We are constantly told that our value lies in what we produce, achieve, or perform. The lie sounds noble, even spiritual sometimes: “Serve more. Give more. Be more.” But underneath it, for many of us, is the wounded belief: I must earn my place. I must prove I’m enough. I’ve lived under that weight. And it nearly broke me.
The Lie of “Earned Worth”
For decades, I operated from a place of high-functioning depression, entangled in busyness not as a rhythm of life but as a shield. A way to keep the pain out. A way to belong. I wore productivity like armour. I served tirelessly, not just in church but in every area of my life — until the edges frayed, and my soul began to unravel.
Rest is a Form of Healing
Rest has become a quiet revolution in my life. It is where I meet God most intimately. In the silence. In the garden. In the messy joy of painting with no purpose but to play. It’s where He reminds me: I am already beloved. Not because of what I do, but because of who He is.
Rest is healing the lies that I must be needed to be worthy and my value is measured in output. It’s healing the orphan spirit in me that believed love must be earned. I’ve learned that until I can rest, I cannot truly give because I’ll be giving from lack, not overflow.
Rest is Warfare
To choose rest is to declare war on the systems that profit from our burnout. To rest is to say: “I will not be enslaved by urgency. I will not offer my soul on the altar of hustle.” Even Jesus rested. He slept in the boat during storms. He retreated to quiet places. He said no to the crowds at times so that He could say yes to the Father.
Rest is how we reclaim our humanity. It is where we recover our identity, not as machines or martyrs, but as children. Beloved, held, and free.
God used lockdown to lovingly strip away the scaffolding of my doing. Suddenly, there was no one to serve, nowhere to go, no events to organise. I was alone with myself. It was terrifying… and beautiful. In that forced stillness, I discovered a gentle invitation:
“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” — Matthew 11:28, NKJV
🖼️ How this Painting Completes this Devotion:
"Stillness in Bloom" captures a sacred moment of stillness, where the soul, no longer rushing or striving, finds itself held. The soft hues and gentle brushstrokes evoke a sense of surrender and sanctuary. It's as though creation itself exhales and reminds us: God is here. You are safe. You are enough. Let this image anchor your heart to the truth that rest is not indulgence — it is an invitation. A holy pause. A place to be known and loved.
Reflection:
Where Are You Striving? 🤔
Take a moment today. Ask your heart:
Am I resting from love, or working for love?
There’s no shame in needing rest. You are not failing because you are tired. Sometimes, fatigue is not a sign of weakness, but a holy whisper that something in your life needs healing.
Let your rest be your protest. Let it be your testimony. Not everything that demands your attention deserves your energy.
How is God calling you to be still and rest today?🤔
Life Application:
Affirmation:
Creative Prompt:
Create a visual or written expression of what rest looks like for your soul.
Is it a hammock under a tree? 🤔
A paintbrush in your hand? 🤔 A quiet walk by the sea? 🤔
Capture it. Let it become a symbol of your holy resistance.
Closing Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the ways I have equated my worth with my work. Teach me to rest in You, to trust that I am enough because You are enough. Show me how to slow down, to abide, to breathe. Help me to resist the lies of busyness and find joy in stillness. I receive Your rest as a gift, not a guilt trip. May my life flow from Your peace.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I’d love to hear your thoughts if this story resonated with you! Please take a moment to rate it or share your constructive feedback in the comments below — it means so much. Don't hesitate to share it with someone whom you feel might benefit from it.