When we think about resting, many of us picture it as recovery—something we do after we’ve poured ourselves out, a necessary break to restore what work has drained. But what if that’s not the biblical model? What if we were designed not to rest from work but to work from rest?
Looking at the creation story in Genesis, we see something remarkable. We often emphasize that God rested on the seventh day, which is significant. But before the work of creation began, God was already in a state of rest.
God’s Work Began from Rest
Genesis 1 opens with God existing in perfect completeness. He was not weary, nor did He need to recover from anything. He created—not out of exhaustion—but out of abundance. His rest wasn’t an escape from work but rather the foundation for it.
When God finished His work, He rested again. This rhythm—rest, work, rest—vastly differs from what we often practice, where we exhaust ourselves and finally pause to recover. The biblical model suggests we are meant to live from Sabbath to Sabbath, not from one chaotic week to the next.
Rest Is the Starting Point, Not the Finish Line
Ministry leaders often function in survival mode, waiting until the exhaustion is unbearable before pausing. But this mindset misses a divine principle: when we prioritize resting first, our work becomes an overflow rather than a strain.
Consider the way God structured time for humanity. The Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown—meaning rest comes first. Evening comes before morning (Genesis 1:5), reinforcing that rest is the beginning of each cycle, not the result of weariness.
What if ministry leaders embraced this perspective? Instead of viewing rest as recovery from hard labor, we’d see it as the launching pad that fuels meaningful work.
Living from Sabbath to Sabbath
When we adopt the rhythm of resting to work rather than working to rest, everything changes:
- Our work becomes an act of worship rather than a burdensome obligation.
- We lead from a place of overflow instead of depletion.
- We make intentional time for restoration rather than waiting until burnout forces it.
Practically, this means:
- Prioritizing the Sabbath as the week’s foundation rather than squeezing it in.
- Scheduling rest first before filling the calendar with work commitments.
- Planning intentional renewal through hobbies, family time, and vacations.
Final Thought
God modeled a rhythm that sets the foundation for lasting impact. He worked from rest, not from exhaustion. Ministry leaders must embrace this principle—living from Sabbath to Sabbath rather than scrambling weekly.
By structuring life around this God-ordained rhythm, we step into a kind of sustainable ministry that reflects His divine wisdom. Rest isn’t the reward for hard work—it’s the fuel that makes holy work possible.
