The Rhythm of Rest God Designed for You
Rest. Scripture talks about it often, yet living it out can feel complicated. In Hebrew, there are three main words for “rest,” each revealing a different side of what God invites us into.
Nuach – to settle, dwell, or remain
Exodus 33:14 – “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest [nuach].” God isn’t promising a nap; He’s promising His presence and peace.
Deuteronomy 12:10 – “He will give you rest [nuach] from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.” Here, rest means security, freedom from striving, and stability.
Isaiah 11:2 – “The Spirit of the LORD will rest [nuach] on him…” This shows the Spirit dwelling and abiding—not rushing in and out.
Nuach reminds us that real rest is found when God’s presence settles in our lives and gives us stability. To experience this rest, we must allow His presence to dwell with us—not rushing ahead, but learning to abide.
Shabbat – to cease, stop, pause
Genesis 2:2–3 – “On the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [shabbat] from all his work.” Shabbat doesn’t mean collapsing after a long week. It means intentionally stopping to delight in God, trusting Him enough to stop striving.
Shabbat reminds us that stopping is holy—it’s obedience, not laziness. To experience this rest, we must choose to lay down the to-do list and carve out space to honor God through stillness and worship.
Menuchah – resting place, deep settled peace
Psalm 23:2 – “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters [menuchah].” This isn’t just physical rest; it’s soul-deep peace. Menuchah paints a picture of stillness, contentment, and refreshment that only God provides.
Menuchah reminds us that rest is about peace for our souls, not just relief for our bodies. To experience this rest, we must spend quiet time with the Lord—learning to rely on His presence as the One who provides for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Jesus ties all of this together in Matthew 11:28–29: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… you will find rest for your souls.” Here the Greek word anapauō means relief, refreshment, and renewal.
All throughout Scripture, we see the call to rest. And Jesus Himself didn’t just command it—He modeled it.
If I’m honest, this has always been a struggle for me. I swing between two extremes: overachieving and performing to the max, or running on empty until I collapse—sometimes into mindless binging, other times because my body simply shuts down and forces me to stop.
But the Spirit has been teaching me a new way. Rest doesn’t always mean an entire day set aside (though that is good!). Sometimes rest looks like:
saying yes to an impromptu coffee date with a friend,
dinner out with my husband,
a movie night with my family,
a nap in the middle of the day just because,
sitting outside with my dog, reflecting on God’s creation,
or slipping away for quiet time with the Lord.
These rhythms of nuach, shabbat, and menuchah remind me that rest is not optional—it’s how God designed us. Rest roots us in His presence, refreshes our hearts, and keeps our work from becoming empty striving.
Today, I encourage you: practice rest. Listen to the Spirit and begin to weave the rhythms of nuach, shabbat, and menuchah into your daily life. Your soul will thank you, and your walk with the Lord will be strengthened.
