Finding True Rest in a Busy World: 4 Tools That Eliminate Stress
🍂 The first day of fall is right around the corner. As the lazy days of summer fade, can you feel it? Life is already speeding up. Kids are back in school, calendars are filling fast, and the holiday season is only a few months away. The pace quickens—and if we’re not careful, so does our stress.
That’s why today’s post is all about rest—physical rest, soul rest, and spiritual rest. Here at Day One of Sobriety, we’re all about Mind Renewal Solutions that Break Destructive Habits. And rest is one of the most powerful solutions God has given us.
My Story: From Striving to Resting
I’ll be honest: rest has been a struggle for me most of my life. Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to nap or sleep in. My mom was always busy—cooking, cleaning, working on a project—and I rarely saw her sit still. I picked up that mindset: rest equals laziness.
Later, unpredictability in my home life made it even harder to trust or relax. I carried that into adulthood—striving, worrying, and always “doing.”
But when I discovered God’s Word on rest, everything changed. Hebrews 4 calls it faith-rest. Not just resting from work, but resting in God’s finished work. That revelation shifted my perspective—and it can change yours too.
Three Layers of Rest
Physical Rest 🛌
Our bodies need downtime—sleep, naps, or simply putting the phone away and sitting still.
Science confirms that without physical rest, stress hormones like cortisol stay elevated, damaging our cells, draining energy, and increasing anxiety. God built rhythms of rest into creation itself. Even He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2).Soul Rest 💭
Soul rest is about calming the mind, will, and emotions. Abraham is a great example—Romans 4 says he was fully persuaded that God would do what He promised. His circumstances screamed “impossible,” but he chose to believe God, and that belief brought him rest. In contrast, the Israelites wandered in unbelief and never entered God’s rest (Hebrews 3). Worry, overthinking, and indecision keep us spinning—but faith steadies the soul.Spiritual Rest ✝️
This is the deepest kind of rest: resting in God’s presence. Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28—“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Spiritual rest isn’t checking out—it’s checking in with Him. Through prayer, worship, and being still, we enter the peace nothing else can offer.
Hindrances to Rest
Sometimes we resist rest because we don’t trust God to handle what we lay down. We replay problems, worry over outcomes, and tell ourselves, “God needs my help.” But both science and Scripture agree: worry doesn’t solve anything—it only wears us out. Hebrews 4 reminds us that faith activates the promise. Rest is evidence of our trust.
4 Practical Tools to Enter Faith-Rest
Pause and Redirect – When you catch yourself spiraling in worry, stop. Say out loud: “I choose to trust God with this.”
Anchor in Scripture – Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Feed your faith daily—read, listen, and meditate on truth. Research shows Bible engagement drops loneliness, bitterness, and anger, while dramatically increasing peace, memorization, and evangelism.
Use the 3:1 Ratio Tool – For every negative thought, replace it with three truths from God’s Word. This practice literally rewires your brain, building faith pathways instead of fear loops.
Partner with God – Do what you can, and leave the rest to Him. Faith-rest isn’t passive—it’s active trust.
Final Encouragement
As we head into the busy fall and holiday season, remember: true rest isn’t found in a long weekend or an afternoon nap—though those can refresh us. True rest is found in faith-rest.
When you choose to trust God, you’re not only finding peace—you’re rewiring your mind and breaking destructive habits of worry, striving, and fear.
Rest isn’t weakness—it’s worship. Rest isn’t quitting—it’s trusting. And rest isn’t optional—it’s essential for living free in Christ.
Prayer
🙏 Father, thank You for the gift of rest. Teach us to trust You fully, to lay down our worries, and to enter Your faith-rest. Help us nourish our bodies, calm our minds, and draw near to You in spirit. For the weary heart today, let Your peace wash over them. Remind them they are chosen, called, and deeply loved. In Jesus’ name, amen.
✨ Want to Go Deeper?
In Episodes 3, 4, and 5 of the Day One of Sobriety podcast, I walk you through:
God’s design for how your brain changes (EP3)
The Triple AAA Plan for breaking cycles (EP4)
The 3:1 Ratio Tool to dismantle toxic thought patterns (EP5)
🎧 Listen now: Day One of Sobriety Podcast
👥 Join our free Facebook group: Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple
DISCLAIMER
The Day One of Sobriety blog and podcast are for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.
