Rest With Purpose
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you... and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30
Summer often brings a change of pace—warmer weather, no school, vacations, beach days, ice cream cones, and long evenings. It’s a season that naturally invites rest from our usual routines. But for many, that rest can easily become disengagement. While rest is both good and necessary, checking out completely can do more harm than good.
This summer, let’s accept the invitation to rest—but let’s do it intentionally, staying rooted in Christ and living with purpose.
In Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. But notice—He doesn’t remove us from life’s responsibilities. Instead, He offers us a place beside Him in His yoke. A yoke is a tool for work, not relaxation, yet Jesus offers rest not by pulling us out of the field, but by sharing the weight. True rest isn’t the absence of work—it’s found in walking closely with Jesus, trusting Him to carry what we can’t.
We often treat purpose and rest as if they’re mutually exclusive—as if we’re either doing something meaningful or we’re unplugging. But in Jesus’ rhythm, the two go hand-in-hand. Taking up His yoke means we continue living with purpose, but without striving or exhaustion. We work, serve, and love from a place of peace, not pressure—because we’re not doing it alone.
Letting go in order to find rest isn’t always easy. Surrender can feel like losing control, and that alone can cause anxiety. But Jesus’ promise of rest is tied to His way, not ours. That means releasing our grip on self-imposed expectations, performance, and people-pleasing. It means trusting that we don’t have to earn what He freely gives—and that His way is not only better, it’s lighter.
As your schedule shifts and life slows down a bit, don’t let your soul drift. Stay connected, live intentionally, and root your rest in Jesus. Summer doesn’t have to mean spiritual pause—it can be a time of deep renewal and purposeful connection.
Here are three simple ways to live this out:
This summer, let’s accept the invitation to rest—but let’s do it intentionally, staying rooted in Christ and living with purpose.
Rest Is Found in Relationship, Not Escape
In Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. But notice—He doesn’t remove us from life’s responsibilities. Instead, He offers us a place beside Him in His yoke. A yoke is a tool for work, not relaxation, yet Jesus offers rest not by pulling us out of the field, but by sharing the weight. True rest isn’t the absence of work—it’s found in walking closely with Jesus, trusting Him to carry what we can’t.
Purpose and Rest Are Not Opposites
We often treat purpose and rest as if they’re mutually exclusive—as if we’re either doing something meaningful or we’re unplugging. But in Jesus’ rhythm, the two go hand-in-hand. Taking up His yoke means we continue living with purpose, but without striving or exhaustion. We work, serve, and love from a place of peace, not pressure—because we’re not doing it alone.
Rest Requires Trustful Surrender
Letting go in order to find rest isn’t always easy. Surrender can feel like losing control, and that alone can cause anxiety. But Jesus’ promise of rest is tied to His way, not ours. That means releasing our grip on self-imposed expectations, performance, and people-pleasing. It means trusting that we don’t have to earn what He freely gives—and that His way is not only better, it’s lighter.
As your schedule shifts and life slows down a bit, don’t let your soul drift. Stay connected, live intentionally, and root your rest in Jesus. Summer doesn’t have to mean spiritual pause—it can be a time of deep renewal and purposeful connection.
Here are three simple ways to live this out:
- Join (or start) a summer small group or Bible study. It may seem counterintuitive, but engaging in community can be one of the most refreshing things you do this season.
- Set aside one quiet morning or evening each week for prayer, rest, and reflection with Jesus. Let Him recalibrate your soul.
- Invite someone new to lunch, coffee, or your backyard. Summer is a perfect time to build relationships that reflect Christ’s love.