Is Rest actually an Act of Faith?

July 13, 2026

Is Rest Actually an Act of Faith?

“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” — Genesis 2:3

Before having my son, I wanted to take on the world.

I wanted to accomplish so many things. I wanted to build a successful career. I wanted to start a business. I wanted to learn as much as I could and become the best version of myself.

When I moved from The Bahamas to Canada, I felt an overwhelming duty to succeed.

I had done well back home, but moving to a foreign country felt different. I wanted to prove—to myself more than anyone—that this move was going to be worth it. Otherwise, why move in the first place?

So I kept going.

And going.

I was moving forward in my career. I earned a promotion almost every year. Eventually, I reached the place I had worked so hard to get to. My husband was working his dream job, and we had settled into a rhythm.

On the outside, things were moving exactly as they should.

But when you're focused on building a career, achieving the next goal, learning the next skill, and reaching the next level, it can become very easy to get lost in the thick of it.

There is always something else to accomplish.

Something else to learn.

Another goal.

Another level.

Another thing telling you that you are not quite there yet.

My dream of starting a business was still there, but I pushed it to the back burner. My career became the focus, and I kept moving full steam ahead.

Then came the miracle of my son.

And suddenly, I had to slow down.

I didn't have a choice.

My body was growing my little person, and he needed me to sit my butt down.

For perhaps the first time in a long time, slowing down wasn't optional.

And even now, with my son in full toddler mode and me back at work, he continues to remind me to slow down. He requires a lot of my attention, energy, patience, and presence.

But I cannot pour into him if I have nothing left to give.

That lesson has forced me to think differently about rest.

We Were Never Meant to Run on Empty

We live in a world that celebrates the grind.

We praise busyness. We admire people who seem to do it all. We talk endlessly about goals, achievements, productivity, careers, businesses, side hustles, and becoming the “best version” of ourselves.

But we don't talk nearly enough about rest.

We become so caught up trying to be everything to everyone that we forget something important:

We need to stop sometimes.

We need time to breathe.

We need time to recover.

We need time to replenish what we have poured out.

Because eventually, if you keep pouring without being refilled, you will be empty.

And God did not create us to spend our lives running on E.

Rest Was Part of the Plan From the Beginning

Genesis 2:2–3 tells us:

“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.”

Think about that.

The Creator of heaven and earth established a rhythm that included rest.

God did not rest because He was exhausted. Isaiah 40:28 tells us that the Lord “neither faints nor is weary.”

So if God does not grow tired, why does Genesis deliberately tell us that He rested?

Maybe because rest was never supposed to be seen as weakness.

Maybe stopping does not mean you have failed.

Maybe taking a break does not mean you lack ambition.

Maybe rest has always been part of the rhythm God intended.

Later, when God gave the Ten Commandments, He said:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” — Exodus 20:8

God did not merely suggest that His people rest when they happened to find the time.

He told them to remember.

Perhaps because He knew how easily we would forget.

But What If I Stop?

I think this is where rest becomes an act of faith.

Because sometimes we keep moving because we are afraid of what will happen if we stop.

What if I fall behind?

What if someone else gets ahead?

What if I miss an opportunity?

What if everything I have built begins to fall apart?

What if I am not doing enough?

Rest requires us to release the belief that everything depends on us.

It requires trust.

Trust that the world will continue turning while we sleep.

Trust that every problem does not have to be solved today.

Trust that our value is not measured by how much we produce.

And, most importantly, trust that God is still God when we stop moving.

Psalm 127:2 says:

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.”

There is a point where constant striving stops being productive and simply becomes exhaustion.

Sometimes faith looks like moving forward.

Sometimes faith looks like taking the leap.

Sometimes faith looks like working hard.

And sometimes faith looks like stopping.

My Son Taught Me to Take a Beat

Becoming a mother changed my relationship with time.

My son needs my presence, not just whatever energy I have left over after I have given everything to work, responsibilities, goals, and everyone else.

He has become one of my greatest reminders to take a beat.

To be present.

To slow down.

To recognize when I am running low.

Because I cannot continue pouring from an empty cup and expect everyone around me to receive the best of me.

And neither can you.

Rest does not make you lazy.

Rest does not erase your ambition.

Rest does not mean giving up on your dreams.

Rest allows you to return to them renewed.

Take the Break

So this week, I want to encourage you to find time to breathe.

Rest your mind.

Rest your body.

Rest your soul.

Step away from the noise for a moment.

Put down the pressure to be everything to everyone.

You do not have to run yourself into the ground to prove that you are committed.

You do not have to be constantly exhausted to prove that you are working hard.

And you do not have to earn the right to rest.

Take the break.

Replenish what has been poured out.

Spend time with God.

Be present with the people you love.

Then, when it is time to begin again, start afresh—renewed, restored, and ready for what comes next.

The work will still be there.

The goals will still be there.