The Sacred Gift of Rest

Dr. Richard Swenson, author of The Overload Syndrome and Margin, writes that we need room to breathe—freedom to think, permission to heal, and space for relationships that can easily be starved by the relentless pace of life.

That may describe more people today than ever. Many of us are physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially overloaded. There never seems to be enough time, money, or energy left at the end of the day to recover before everything starts again at full speed.

The answer, at least in part, is something our culture often neglects: margin.

Margin means leaving enough room in our lives to rest, reflect, recover, and reconnect with what matters most. It is, in a sense, taking a break before you break.

The Cost of Living Without Margin

A life without margin can carry serious physical, emotional, relational, and even financial consequences.

Consider sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, many Americans regularly struggle to get adequate rest, with a significant number of adults sleeping fewer than seven hours each night. Chronic sleep deprivation has been associated with health concerns including diabetes, obesity, anxiety, and heart disease.

Lack of sleep also affects emotional health, relationships, and decision-making. That means rest is not merely a luxury. It is part of living wisely and caring responsibly for the bodies, relationships, and responsibilities God has entrusted to us.

Perhaps life simply feels too fast right now. Working late nights and weekends may occasionally be necessary, but continuously burning the candle at both ends eventually becomes counterproductive.

Exhaustion leaves little energy for the things that matter most—especially our relationships with others and with the Lord.

God Designed Us for Work—and Rest

Scripture consistently affirms the goodness of work. God calls us to provide for our families, serve others, practice generosity, and faithfully use the abilities and opportunities He has given us.

We work to pay bills, save for future needs, give generously, and contribute to our communities. Productive work is part of God's design.

But work is not all there is. Rest is God's idea too.

In Genesis, God rested on the seventh day of creation—not because He was exhausted, but because His work was complete. He blessed the seventh day and set it apart. Later, Sabbath rest became part of the Ten Commandments given to Israel.

Rest reminds us of an important spiritual reality: our worth does not depend on how much we accomplish.

Author Rich Villodas has observed that Sabbath reminds us that our standing in Christ is not based on our works. A day of rest allows us to stop producing and remember that God's love for us has not changed.

That can be especially difficult in a culture where technology makes it possible to work almost anywhere, at almost any hour. But just because we can keep working does not mean we always should.

Healthy margin allows us to return to our work with purpose, energy, and gratitude, doing it “as for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).

Professional progress can be valuable, but chronic stress, damaged health, and neglected relationships are a high price to pay for it.

Rest Is Not the Same as Laziness

Biblical rest should not be confused with laziness.

Laziness means neglecting the responsibilities God has given us or consistently refusing to do what needs to be done. Scripture repeatedly warns against that kind of idleness.

Paul tells believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 to admonish the idle. In 2 Thessalonians 3, he addresses those who were refusing to work and instead becoming busybodies.

There is an important distinction here. Rest restores us so we can return faithfully to the work God has given us. Idleness avoids that work altogether.

Proverbs 31 gives us another picture of faithful diligence. The noble woman cares for her household, conducts business, helps the poor, and looks after those entrusted to her. Proverbs 31:27 says, “She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

Fruitful labor honors God. But so does recognizing when it is time to stop.

When Busyness Becomes Another Form of Distraction

There is another danger worth recognizing: constant activity can sometimes disguise a lack of purpose.

We may appear busy without actually being productive.

Without intentional rest and reflection, our activity can become aimless distraction rather than faithful work. We move constantly but rarely stop long enough to ask whether we are moving in the right direction.

Laziness can sometimes take an unexpected form as well. Instead of doing nothing, we may spend hours scrolling, shopping, watching, or distracting ourselves while neglecting relationships or responsibilities that matter more.

Proverbs 24:30–34 paints a memorable picture of a neglected field covered with thorns and weeds. The lesson is simple: neglect eventually has consequences.

If you struggle with procrastination or laziness, the answer is not shame. Bring that struggle to Christ. He offers forgiveness, wisdom, and strength to grow in faithfulness and diligence.

Finding a Rhythm of Grace

The encouraging news is that God's grace meets us in both extremes.

Some of us are exhausted because we never stop working. Others feel stuck because we continually avoid the work before us. Christ invites both groups into something better: rhythms shaped by grace rather than guilt.

Rest is not something we earn after proving ourselves productive enough. It is something we receive as a gift from God. Jesus gives this invitation in Matthew 11:28–30:

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

If your life feels overloaded, perhaps the next faithful step is not finding a way to accomplish more. It may be creating enough margin to remember who you are, what matters most, and Who ultimately sustains you.

Work faithfully. Rest gratefully. And remember that your security is not found in how much you accomplish, but in Christ.

In Him, there is room to breathe.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• Someone I know has seen their credit card debt grow from about $10,000 to $25,000, and the account is now closed. I suspect missed payments and interest are driving the increase. How can I help them understand what’s happening and make a plan to deal with the debt?
• My husband and I are both 77 and would like to avoid probate, but we don’t have significant assets. Would an irrevocable trust make sense for us, and how can we find a qualified elder law attorney in Texas to help us understand our options?
• I’m retired and living comfortably on my pension, with about $125,000 in savings and $19,000 in checking. My bank keeps encouraging me to put the savings into CDs, but the rates don’t seem very attractive. What should I consider doing with this money?
• I’m 59, debt-free, have a fully funded emergency fund, and am contributing to my 401(k). I also have about $200,000 to invest. I want reasonable growth without taking excessive risk. How should I think about investing this money, especially compared with options like fixed annuities or crypto?

Resources Mentioned:

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)
• Christian Credit Counselors
• AdelFi Christian Banking
• Eventide | Praxis | GuideStone | OneAscent | Timothy Plan
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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