10 Verses For When You're Craving Rest

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

Finding rest this time of year feels about as easy as finding a pumpkin in Hobby Lobby. We’re covered up in stress, busyness, and mile-long to-do lists, just like the shelves of my favorite decor store are covered with garland, ribbon, ornaments, and Christmas lights. And honestly, it feels like we’ve just come to accept that stress is as much a part of this season as the Christmas trees.

But that doesn’t have to be the case. Stress doesn’t have to be a guarantee amidst all of the holiday craziness. We can still find rest. We can still carve out time to breathe.

And trust me, I’m preaching to the choir in this one.

So to give you (and me) the encouragement we need, I gathered up some verses that remind us to rest. I hope you’ll take these to heart today and that you’ll continue to revisit this list throughout the month as you need to be reminded to take some time to breathe, rest and refuel.

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It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. - Psalm 127:2

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. - Hebrews 4:9-10

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” - Exodus 33:14

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. - Psalm 37:7

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. - Exodus 20:8-11

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” - Isaiah 30:15

If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. - Proverbs 3:24

And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. - Mark 2:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. - John 14:27

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30