Why God Made Rest His Fourth Priority (And Why We Ignore It)
We live in a culture that glorifies the grind. We wear our exhaustion like a badge of honor, fuel ourselves with 400 million cups of coffee daily, and spend an average of $121,000 on caffeine in our lifetime just to keep going. The average American feels exhausted for 1,500 hours every year—that's 62 full days of feeling completely drained. Yet somehow, we've convinced ourselves this is normal.
But God had a different idea from the very beginning.
When God gave humanity the Ten Commandments—His top ten priorities for how we should live—He didn't wait long to address this issue. By the fourth commandment, He tells us: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8). Not don't murder. Not don't steal. Rest. Take a day off. Trust Me.
The Hebrew word "Shabbat" simply means to cease, to stop, to rest. But here's what's fascinating: when God rested on the seventh day of creation, it wasn't because He was tired. God doesn't get tired. He rested as an act of delight and completion. His rest wasn't born from need but from choice—a celebration of finished work.
God is modeling something profound for us: rest is trust in action.
The Real Problem
We struggle with rest because our culture teaches us that everything depends on our individual effort. We're driven by competition, merit-based success, and a work-first mentality. Taking a day off feels irresponsible when the mortgage is due, the project deadline is looming, or the kids need new shoes.
But underneath all our busyness lies a deeper issue: we trust ourselves more than we trust God.
Isaiah 40:31 promises that "those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Notice it doesn't say those who work harder or hustle longer. It says those who trust.
The Countercultural Choice
In today's America, taking a weekly day of rest might be the most defiant act of faith you can make. It's a declaration that screams, "I trust God can do more in six days with me than I can do in seven days without Him."
This isn't about being lazy or unambitious. It's about recognizing that nothing—absolutely nothing—is made better by exhaustion. When we're tired, anxiety increases, decision-making suffers, and we operate from reactive emotions rather than thoughtful wisdom.
Making It Practical
Start by remembering. Set alarms, build your week around rest instead of squeezing it in if time allows. Discover what stopping means for you—it might be hiking, reading, or simply being present with family. And most importantly, identify the areas where you need to release control and trust God more.
God placed rest as the fourth commandment because He knew we'd need it. Not as a restriction, but as a gift. Not to limit us, but to sustain us with supernatural vitality.
The question isn't whether you can afford to rest. It's whether you can afford not to.