Why Rest Isn’t a Reward - It’s Where Life Begins

In our fast-paced, outcome-obsessed culture, rest often feels like a luxury we can do without, or it’s something we’re told we have to earn. We push ourselves to the limit, telling ourselves that once the work is done, then we can relax.

But what if that’s the wrong way around?

What if God designed life to begin—not end—with rest?

God’s Rhythm Is Different

Jesus gives us a radical invitation in Matthew 11:28–30: 

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…”

This isn’t just about physical exhaustion. It’s about a deep kind of rest—a return to how we were always meant to live: whole, grounded, and connected to God.

God’s rhythm isn’t work hard, then rest. It’s rest in Me, then work from that place.

This kind of rest is rooted in the biblical concept of shalom.

What Is Shalom, Really?

I sign off my articles with the word “shalom”. It is a word our Donvale community has enveloped into its curriculum and pastoral language for many years now. Simplistically, we hear “shalom” translated as “peace,” but in the Bible, it means so much more.

Shalom is a rich, multidimensional concept. It’s about wholeness—a sense of complete well-being in every area of life. Theologians describe it as “a blessing that encapsulates God’s goodness and His very nature.”

At its heart, shalom is relational. Experiencing true shalom means living in harmony with:

• The Trinity (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
• Ourselves (knowing who we are in Christ)
• Others (healthy, loving relationships)
• Creation (living in step with the world God made)

When these relationships are aligned, we experience deep peace, purpose, and identity. That’s shalom. And it’s what God designed us for.

We Had It in the Beginning

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve lived in perfect shalom. Genesis 3:8 describes God walking in the garden—a picture of intimate fellowship. Everything was whole. Everything was right. But after the fall, that wholeness was fractured. The good news for us is that, through Jesus, God is restoring it—piece by piece.

The Role of Sabbath in Restoring Shalom

Here’s where it gets practical. Sabbath is God’s reset button. The Hebrew word Shabbat means “to cease.” It’s about stopping—pressing pause—so we can be renewed.

Sabbath isn’t just a command or a religious ritual. It’s a gift—a weekly opportunity to step back, reconnect with God, and allow Him to restore our shalom. This is why so many of us, in the practicality of our walk in faith, see our gathering in fellowship with those we go to church with, as a part of our Sabbath observance.

Jesus understood the need to step back, reconnect with God and be restored. He didn’t just observe the Sabbath—He also used it to heal, restore, and set people free. He even challenged religious leaders who turned it into a burden, rather than a blessing. 

“The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27

Even today, Sabbath rest is meant to be how God realigns our hearts and re-centres our lives around Him.

Jesus Modeled a Different Way to Live

Jesus never hurried. He was never overwhelmed by a massive “to-do list” (to be honest, if Jesus had written one out, it would have been the longest ever!). He began His ministry with 40 days in the wilderness. Throughout His life, He regularly withdrew to quiet places to be with the Father.

I suggest that Jesus lived from rest, not for it. He taught His disciples to do the same. In Mark 6:7–9, He sends them out with nothing but the clothes on their backs, showing them how to trust in the Father’s provision. It was never about striving—it was about abiding.

God’s Invitation Still Stands

God is still inviting us into His rest. Not a surface-level break from work, but a deep, soul-renewing return to wholeness. At the end of a busy term, at the end of a long semester, His words can be transformative. 

“Come to me… and I will give you rest… you will find rest for your souls.” 

Matthew 11:28–30

You don’t have to hustle your way to peace. You were created to live from peace. You were made for shalom.

As we launch into this holiday break, enjoy the rest and let God restore you and your family. God’s design for the good life starts with rest, as we seek his …

Shalom.