The Sacred Gift of Rest

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28)

As the pace of spring transitions into the slower rhythm of summer, nature itself whispers an invitation: breathe, pause, rest. For many of us, especially those carrying heavy emotional or spiritual burdens, this invitation may feel foreign, even unreachable. In the heart of our faith, rest is a holy necessity; it’s a spiritual practice that draws us into the loving embrace of our Father. If the Creator of the universe saw rest as part of the rhythm of goodness, why do we so often resist it?

At Healed and Restored, we often meet women who have lived in survival mode for so long, they’ve forgotten what it means to rest. Many have walked through trauma, betrayal, rejection, addiction, and shame. Some have never known a day free from anxiety. Others have confused busyness with purpose and performance with worth.

But there is a better way. A holy way. A healing way.

Rest: A Divine Pattern

From the very first pages of Scripture, we encounter God who works and then rests:

“And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done.” (Genesis 2:2)

God, who needs nothing, chose to rest, not because He was tired, but to set a pattern for us. Rest is woven into the very fabric of creation. And yet, in our modern culture, rest is often seen as laziness, weakness, or a lack of ambition.

What if true strength is found in stillness? What if rest is the beginning of renewal?

Jesus: The Rest-Giver Who Confronts Our Fear

When Jesus walked the earth, He didn’t only perform healing miracles; He embodied healing. He didn’t just offer a better way to live; He offered Himself as rest for our weary souls.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

This isn’t the kind of rest that comes from a nap, a weekend off, or a perfectly planned vacation. No, this is deeper. This is the kind of rest that reaches into the hidden corners of the heart—the places we try to clean up before anyone sees, even God.

Jesus says:

You don’t have to carry this alone anymore.

You don’t have to keep performing.

You don’t have to hold everything together.

You don’t have to fix yourself before coming to Me.

This rest doesn’t require a mask. It requires surrender.

Fear Is a Liar—Jesus Speaks the Truth

So many of us struggle to rest, not because we don’t want to but because we’re afraid. Fear says:

• “You’re not doing enough.”

• “If you stop, everything will fall apart.”

• “You can’t afford to rest—what will people think?”

• “You haven’t earned rest yet. You’re still too broken.”

• “God helps those who help themselves, right?”

  
  

Those are lies. They come straight from the enemy, the one who wants you exhausted, anxious, and disconnected from the Father’s love. The devil knows that a rested woman, one who trusts in God's strength instead of her own, is powerful. So, he keeps whispering lies that keep us running.

But Jesus speaks the truth.

“The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

“God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 

(2 Timothy 1:7)

Fear may shout, but it doesn’t get the final word. Jesus does. His voice says:

• “Come to Me.”

• “I will give you rest.”

• “You are safe with Me.”

• “You don’t have to earn My love.”

• “I know you’re tired, let Me carry you.”

  
  

Rest Isn’t Weakness—It’s Warfare

Choosing to rest in Jesus is not weakness; it is spiritual warfare. It means choosing to believe the truth over the lies, to step out of fear and into faith.

When you say no to the voice of fear and yes to the invitation of Jesus, you are declaring:

“I believe God is who He says He is.

I believe I am who He says I am.

I believe He is enough, even when I am not.”

That’s why we need holy rest, not just for recovery but for the recovery of our identity as beloved daughters and sons of the King.

A Word to Those Who Feel Tired and Afraid

If you are reading this and feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders… if you’re tired of striving and still feel not enough… if fear has been your loudest companion, Jesus is speaking to you.

He is saying: "Come to Me. Rest in Me. You’re not too much. You’re not too far gone. I see you. I want you. I will restore you."

Friend, you don’t have to wait until your life looks perfect. You can come as you are—messy, weary, full of questions because He is gentle and humble of heart. And He promises that in Him, you will find rest for your soul.

So breathe. Let the lies fall away. Let His love speak louder than your fear because when fear lies, Jesus speaks peace. Peace is what your soul was made for.

A Day of Rest: More Than a Day Off

In the Ten Commandments, God commands His people to observe the Sabbath and keep it holy (Exodus 20:8-11). The Catholic Church teaches us that Sunday is a day of obligation; not only to attend Mass, but to worship, to cease from unnecessary work, and to rest in the Lord. The Catechism reminds us:

“Just as God ‘rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,’ human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.” (CCC 2184)

When we observe the Sabbath, we participate in God's rhythm of life. We say, “God, I trust You enough to stop striving. I believe that my worth isn’t found in my productivity but in Your love.”

This is especially healing for those of us who feel like we constantly must “do” to be loved or accepted.

Rest and Restoration: A Personal Journey

At Healed and Restored, we believe that true rest is often the first step toward true healing. Many of the women who come through our doors have never been given permission to slow down, to be still, or to receive.

Here are just a few ways that rest becomes part of the healing journey:

• Silence becomes a sanctuary. 

  In silence, we begin to hear the voice of the Father calling us “beloved.”

• Stillness becomes strength. 

  When we stop, we start to notice where we are hurting and where God is working.

• A day of rest becomes a sacred space. 

  A day to worship, play, and pray reminds us that life is more than survival.

  
  

Five Simple Ways to Cultivate Holy Rest This Month

1. Begin each morning with Scripture and silence.

   Start your day not with a to-do list, but with the Word of God. Sit with a passage like “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

   
   

2. Visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

   Whether for five minutes or an hour, time in adoration is soul-rest. Just be with Him. No performance, no pressure, just presence.

   
   

3. Take one full day off each week.

   Unplug from screens, work, and worry. Choose a Sunday meal with family, attend Mass reverently, and let your heart breathe.

   
   

4. Go on a “silent walk.”

   No music. No podcasts. Just you, nature, and God. Notice what He might be speaking to your heart.

   
   

5. Journal a prayer of surrender

   What burdens are you carrying? Write them down and lay them before the Lord. He wants to carry them with you.

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A Ministry Rooted in Rest

At Healed and Restored, we know that true healing only happens when we slow down enough to receive it. Our prayer for you this month is that you would allow yourself the gift of rest; not as something you have to earn, but as something God delights in giving you. Let this summer be a season of restoration. Come away with Him and rest a while (Mark 6:31).

Your soul was made for this.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

You don’t need to be perfectly healed.

You don’t need to have a plan.

You simply need to say: “Yes, Lord. I want to rest in You.”

We believe that rest is not only possible but also essential because, in rest, we meet the Healer (Jesus).

“Return, my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has been good to you.” (Psalm 116:7)

May this summer be filled with quiet moments of peace, deep breaths of grace, and the gentle restoration only Jesus can give.