Burnout Isn't God's Plan for You: Why God Insists on RestSample

Day 3: Rest Before You Break

Here's the thing that blows my mind about rest: God modeled it first.

After creating the universe in six days, the almighty, never-tired, infinitely energetic God rested. Not because He needed to, but because He knew we would. He built a rhythm of work and rest into the very fabric of creation, then demonstrated it Himself.

God literally worked for six days, then stopped. He declared the seventh day holy, not because of what happened on it, but because of what didn't happen on it. The day became sacred through the act of stopping.

But somewhere along the way, we decided we could improve on God's design. We convinced ourselves that rest is for the weak, that stopping is for quitters, that constant productivity is the path to God's blessing.

We're wrong.

Jesus made it clear: "The Sabbath was made for man." Rest isn't a luxury for when everything is finished—it's a necessity for functioning as God designed us. We weren't created to run 24/7. When we try to, we don't become more spiritual; we become more broken.

God allows some of us to burn out, not as punishment, but as rescue. Sometimes He lets us crash so we'll finally stop racing. Sometimes He forces rest on us because we refuse to choose it ourselves.

But here's a better idea: rest before you break.

Take the nap. End the workday. Put down the phone. Trust that God can handle your responsibilities for a few hours while you sleep. Believe that He's more concerned with your wholeness than your productivity.

You don't have to earn God's love through exhaustion. You don't have to prove your worth through endless work. Rest isn't rebellion against God's purposes—it's alignment with God's design.

Let's pray: God, thank You that I don't have to earn Your love through exhaustion. Help me to trust You enough to rest, to believe that You can handle what I put down. Teach me to walk in rhythm with You—not just in work, but in rest.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Ready to discover God's design for rest in every area of your life?

As a thank you for finishing this plan, I'd love to give you a copy of my award-winning book 'Simple Money, Rich Life.' It's packed full of biblical strategies to create margin in your finances so you can actually afford to rest without anxiety about provision.

👉 See how to grow what God's given you here