How can we rest on the Sabbath?

Rev. Hojin Nam (Lead Pastor, Holy Mountain Presbyterian Church)

Life in this world is not easy. The world constantly pushes us. It tells us to work harder, go higher, achieve more, and never stop. Even when we are already tired, the world tells us to try again and do more. But this message does not truly help those who are tired—it only pushes the weary even harder. Yet Jesus gives us a very different invitation. He says,“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) True rest is found only in Him. Any rest outside of Christ is only temporary and false. Many people try to find rest in entertainment, success, or personal pleasure, but these things cannot give peace to the soul. God created us so that our hearts cannot rest apart from Him. As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.”When I was studying in the United States, Pastor Eugene Peterson once visited our seminary to give a special lecture. After the lecture there was a time for questions. One student stood up and shared honestly about his situation. He said he was overwhelmed. He had many academic responsibilities, a newborn baby at home, and ministry duties at church. He felt completely exhausted and asked him what he should do. Eugene Peterson answered with simple but wise words. He said, “When you rest, you must rest well. Just doing nothing is not real rest. True rest is resting in God.” His words reminded us that the Sabbath is not simply about stopping work. It is about returning our hearts to God and finding our peace in Him.

First, when we rest, we must remember God’s love. Simply turning off our phones or stopping our work is not enough. True rest comes when we quiet our hearts before God through prayer, Scripture, and worship. During that time we should ask ourselves an important question: “Where does my value come from?” The world tells us that our value comes from achievement, productivity, and success. But the Bible teaches something very different. Our value comes from God’s love. Scripture tells us that God does not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick (Isaiah 42:3) In other words, God cares deeply for those who feel weak and weary. Our worth does not come from what we produce but from the fact that we are loved by God. When we stop working on the Sabbath, we remind ourselves of this truth: my value does not come from my accomplishments; my value comes from God’s love.

Second, the Sabbath reminds us that we are free. Through Jesus Christ we have been set free from sin. We are no longer slaves to darkness. Because of this freedom, the Sabbath is not simply a day to do whatever we want. If we fill our rest with selfish desires, we may easily fall back into temptation. True rest comes when we remember who we are in Christ. We belong to Him. We are no longer controlled by sin. When we rest with this understanding, we experience the freedom that Jesus has given us.

Finally, the Sabbath is a time to enjoy our relationship with the Lord. Our salvation does not come from our own effort. It is not something we earned through hard work. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace. In the same way, our lives and our future are ultimately in God’s hands. When we rest, we confess that Jesus is our King and that our lives belong to Him. During the Sabbath we worship, study Scripture, and share fellowship with other believers. We can also enjoy God’s creation—taking a walk, spending time with friends, and appreciating the beauty of the world God made. These simple things remind us that we are not machines created only to work. We are people created to live in loving fellowship with God.

All of us need this kind of rest. Our lives are busy and full of responsibilities. Problems and worries constantly demand our attention. It is easy to believe that we must keep working without stopping. But Jesus lovingly calls us and says, “Come to me.” True rest is not simply more sleep or a longer vacation. True rest is found in Jesus Christ. When we remember God’s love, when we live in the freedom Christ gives, and when we enjoy fellowship with our Lord, our hearts begin to experience real peace. May we all come to Christ and receive the rest that He promises.