Dear reader, if you’re anything like me, you too take pride in being busy and productive. 

Whether it’s filling up a Notion page with a crazy amount of to-dos, overpacking a day with activities, or obsessively tracking hours spent studying on apps like YPT, let’s face it – our “productivity” is often a facade for a restless and tired soul. 

As the competition and concert season for many CCAs approach, and the weighted assessments loom near, it’s easy to feel weary and burdened. 

If you find yourself in such a season, take some time to pore over these five verses that will encourage you and give you rest. 

1. Isaiah 40:28-31: The Lord restores us

“But those who hope 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.” (Isaiah 40:31)

This verse was plastered on the walls of the hall of my secondary school. I read it every single day while I was in school, but even though it was a good reminder of God’s unfailing strength, I never really intentionally reflected on how He has truly renewed me, day after day.  

Have you ever felt so burnt out and stuck – as if you’re crawling like a snail?

Isaiah explains that the power the Lord gives to the weak and weary can make us soar on wings like eagles – it can rejuvenate us and spur us on. 

While we can occasionally find bursts of motivation from time to time, the myriad of burn-out cures we shuffle between only offer a temporary solution to our exhaustion. 

During these periods of weariness, it’s important to rest in the Lord and draw on His strength. He promises to renew us in such a way so that we will be able to run without being faint.

This can look like taking some time out in the day to just be quiet in meditation on His Word. Consider putting together some verses together that you can meditate on each morning.

More of a night owl? Well, there’s also journalling that you can do at night. That will certainly help us gain some perspective and gratitude for what God has done for us through the day.

2. Exodus 14:14: The Lord fights our battles

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

In Exodus 14, when Pharaoh decided to forcefully bring Israel back to Egypt, the people of Israel were plagued with anxiety and worry. The wilderness seemed inescapable, and the surrounding danger and fear led them to complain to God. 

In response, Moses commanded the people to be courageous and not afraid – because the LORD would fight for them.

Despite not knowing how God would be able to help them in this situation, he knew that God certainly would. In a situation where most would only be thinking of making a blind escape, Moses commanded Israel to stop and be still. 

For the Israelites, being still meant listening to God’s direction before making their next move and trusting that the Lord would provide a way out for them.

True enough, God commanded them to take action, and used Moses to part the Red Sea and lead them on towards the Promised Land. 

For us today, being still can look like praying for God’s direction and being patient in His presence. Admittedly, patience and commitment to waiting on God’s lead can seem like a tall order in a busy period, where everything feels urgent.

We may be tempted to be constantly on the go, and fight our battles in school – exams, friendship dramas, and other commitments – on our own. 

But just like how the Lord commanded Israel through Moses to be still and unafraid, we should likewise be still and seek His direction before we do anything else.

3. Matthew 11:28-30: He will give us rest

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30 have always been a great consolation to me, and these are some of my favourite verses in the Bible.

Jesus invites the crowd to come to Him, directing His call to those who are weary and burdened. 

Interestingly, Jesus uses the metaphor of a yoke, which is a tool that binds oxen together.

The idea is this: when training a new ox, ancient farmers would yoke it to an older and stronger ox which would bear the burden and guide the weaker ox through its learning. 

When we allow Jesus to carry our yoke, He will be there to support us and give us rest, as long as we go to Him and learn from Him. 

Echoing Jeremiah 6:16, Jesus describes His gift to those who follow Him as “rest for our souls”. 

This relief from carrying our burdens is why we need to remember to rest in the presence of the Lord – especially when things get busy.

4. Psalm 23: The Lord will take care of you

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:2-4)

When I consider the environment that is described in Psalm 23, with its “green pastures” and “quiet waters”, a feeling of serenity and calmness envelops me. 

We see God described as a shepherd (Psalm 23:1), one who looks after and understands His sheep and their needs. Through the Psalm, the Lord promises to look after His people.

God knows that we need rest, and leads us to rest. He promises to take care of us.

He continues to restore our souls, and leads us into paths of righteousness. Without the Lord as our guide, it’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced world around us, instead of trekking “in the paths of righteousness” and reflecting on where we’re going.

But the Lord commands us to “lie down” and slow down, promising to guide us through the valleys and difficult times in our life, as long as we continue to rest and abide in Him.

5. Genesis 2:2-3: Rest is necessary

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:2-3)

After six days of building the heavens and the earth, God chose to rest. He provided the seventh day as a gift to man, for us to be able to rest and replenish ourselves. Through this, the Sabbath provides a glimpse into the rest offered by Christ himself. 

Personally, I’ve always struggled with observing the Sabbath and taking a full day out to rest.

However, we must not lose the meaning or practice of this precious principle in life, which is to set aside time to enjoy God’s work and worship Him.

We must take the time to rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ, appreciating what He has done for us and exalting Him intentionally.

If even God rested, and deemed rest as necessary, we should be humble and recognise that we need to rest in the Lord!

For a start, would you begin to take out a few minutes every day to be still and rest in the Lord’s presence and commune with Him?

Yes, your schedule may be packed right now, but try it out – rest in the Lord and His presence will change your life.