Embracing Rest: The Power of Divine Pauses

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Hitting Pause: Rest Is Not Quitting

Taking a break does not mean giving up; it means recognizing the need to stop and recharge so you can keep going. Life can be overwhelming, and the pressures of work, family, and ministry can push anyone to the brink of burnout. But just as a pause button in a game allows a player to catch their breath and return stronger, so too does pausing in life allow you to regain strength and perspective. Embracing rest is not a sign of weakness or laziness, but a wise and necessary act that enables you to continue your journey with renewed energy and clarity. [03:55]

Matthew 26:36 (ESV)
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to intentionally hit pause this week, and how can you create space for true rest in that area?

Day 2: Jesus Understands Our Emotional Struggles

Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions, including sorrow, anxiety, and internal anguish, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, to carry the weight of responsibility, and to face moments of deep distress. When you feel crushed by life’s burdens, remember that Jesus has walked that path before you. He is not distant from your pain; He is present with you in it, offering empathy, understanding, and comfort. [21:04]

Matthew 26:37-38 (ESV)
And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

Reflection: When have you felt emotionally overwhelmed or crushed? How does knowing that Jesus understands your struggles change the way you approach Him in prayer?

Day 3: There Is Purpose in the Crushing

Just as olives must be crushed to produce oil, seasons of crushing in our lives can bring forth growth, anointing, and new strength. The pain and pressure you experience are not signs that God has abandoned you; rather, they are often the very means by which God brings out the best in you. In the midst of brokenness, God is working to produce something valuable and beautiful—whether it’s deeper faith, greater compassion, or new opportunities for service. Trust that your crushing season is not wasted, but is being used by God for a greater purpose. [24:36]

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (ESV)
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel “crushed” right now, and how might God be using this season to bring forth something new in you?

Day 4: The Power of Persistent, Honest Prayer

Jesus modeled vulnerability and persistence in prayer, repeatedly bringing His anguish to God and honestly expressing His desires and struggles. Prayer is not about having the perfect words or only asking once; it’s about continually coming to God with your real emotions, needs, and questions. Even when others let you down or don’t understand, God invites you to bring everything to Him. Persistent prayer is not a lack of faith—it is an act of trust that God hears, cares, and will respond in His way and time. [31:22]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one burden or request you need to keep bringing to God, honestly and persistently, even if you haven’t seen an answer yet?

Day 5: Rest and Community: God’s Design for Renewal

God created rest as a sacred gift, and Jesus both practiced and taught the importance of withdrawing for renewal—often with the support of community. Just as a race car driver needs a pit stop and a crew to finish the race, you need moments of rest and people who can support you in prayer and encouragement. Sabbath rest is not optional; it is a command and a blessing, designed to restore your soul and empower you to continue your calling. Don’t neglect the gift of rest or the strength found in community—let God and others help you refuel for the journey ahead. [42:39]

Exodus 20:8-10a (ESV)
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

Reflection: Who are the people in your life who can be your “pit crew” when you need to rest, and how can you intentionally invite them into your journey this week?

Sermon Summary

In the midst of life’s relentless pace and overwhelming demands, it’s easy to believe that pressing pause is a sign of weakness or quitting. Yet, the truth is that taking a break is not only necessary, but it is also divinely modeled for us. Even Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, paused under the crushing weight of his assignment. He withdrew to pray, to grieve, and to gather strength for what was ahead. This act of pausing was not an escape from his purpose, but a vital part of fulfilling it.

We often find ourselves caught in the grind, believing our worth is tied to our productivity, and neglecting the sacred gift of rest. Our culture, and even our history, has conditioned us to keep moving, to prove ourselves, and to carry generational exhaustion. But God, from the very beginning, instituted the Sabbath—a holy pause—reminding us that rest is not a luxury, but a command and a blessing. If God rested, and if Jesus withdrew for rest and prayer, how much more do we need to honor the rhythm of rest in our own lives?

The Garden of Gethsemane teaches us that even the strongest among us can feel overwhelmed, anxious, and crushed. Jesus’ vulnerability in that moment shows us that it’s okay to admit when we’re not okay. He called on his friends for support, even though they failed him, and he poured out his heart to God in honest, persistent prayer. Sometimes, the crushing seasons of life are where God brings forth the best in us—just as olives must be pressed to produce oil, our own crushing can yield new strength, wisdom, and anointing.

Rest is not just about physical withdrawal; it’s about spiritual renewal. Prayer is our power source, connecting us to the strength we need to face what lies ahead. The situation may not change immediately, but we are changed in the process. Like a race car driver making a pit stop, we pause not to quit, but to be restored so we can finish the race. God invites us to come to Him for true rest, exchanging our heaviness for His peace. In Christ, we find the rest our souls desperately need, both now and for eternity.

Key Takeaways

1. Rest is a Divine Command, Not a Luxury God modeled rest in creation and commanded us to keep the Sabbath holy. Neglecting rest is not just unhealthy—it’s disobedient. When we honor the rhythm of rest, we align ourselves with God’s design and open ourselves to His restoration. [12:09]
2. Jesus Understands Our Overwhelm and Anxiety In Gethsemane, Jesus experienced deep anguish, anxiety, and sorrow. He knows firsthand what it means to be crushed by life’s burdens. His willingness to pause and pray in the midst of overwhelming pressure assures us that our struggles are not foreign to God, and that we can bring our honest emotions to Him. [21:04]
3. The Crushing Seasons Produce God’s Best in Us Just as olives must be crushed to yield oil, our own seasons of brokenness can bring forth new anointing, character, and strength. The pain is not a sign of God’s absence, but often the very place where He is working most deeply in us. There is no elevation without the crushing, and God brings sweetness even from our brokenness. [24:36]
4. Community and Prayer Are Essential in Our Pauses Jesus called on his closest friends for support, even though they failed him. While people may disappoint us, we are still called to seek community and to be honest in our prayers. Persistent, vulnerable prayer is not a lack of faith, but an act of trust—returning to God again and again for strength and clarity. [31:22]
5. Rest Empowers Us to Face, Not Escape, Our Challenges Pausing does not remove the challenges ahead, but it equips us to meet them with renewed strength. Like a pit stop in a race, rest is where God restores, refuels, and prepares us to continue. Prayer may not always change our circumstances, but it changes us, giving us the power to endure and the hope of resurrection on the other side.

** [38:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:55] - Series Introduction: Mind Games
[03:03] - Scripture Reading: Matthew 26
[03:55] - Hitting Pause: It’s Not Quitting
[04:37] - The Power of the Pause Button
[07:57] - Finding Rest in Life’s Rhythms
[09:01] - Grief, Triggers, and Unresolved Pain
[10:09] - The Surprise of Grief
[12:09] - The Gift and Command of Sabbath
[14:37] - Jesus’ Pattern of Rest
[16:23] - Rest as Resistance to Grind Culture
[19:58] - Jesus’ Emotional Weight in Gethsemane
[21:04] - Jesus’ Human Experience of Anguish
[24:36] - The Crushing Process and Its Purpose
[27:32] - The Role of Community in Our Struggles
[31:22] - Honest and Persistent Prayer
[38:19] - Rest Empowers Us for the Journey
[41:28] - The Pit Stop: Rest to Finish the Race
[44:26] - Prayer for Restoration and Rest
[45:47] - Invitation to Salvation and Community

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 26:36-46 — (Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane)

Observation Questions

In Matthew 26:36-46, what specific actions did Jesus take when He felt overwhelmed in the Garden of Gethsemane?
According to the sermon, what words does Matthew use to describe Jesus’ emotional state in the garden? ([19:58])
What did Jesus ask of His disciples while He was praying in the garden? How did they respond? ([27:32])
The sermon mentions the meaning of “Gethsemane.” What does this word mean, and how does it connect to what Jesus experienced there? ([24:36])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus, even though He was the Son of God, chose to pause and pray in the midst of His anguish? What does this reveal about His humanity and His relationship with the Father? ([21:04])
The sermon compares the crushing of olives to the crushing seasons in our lives. What is the significance of this metaphor, and what does it suggest about the purpose of our struggles? ([24:36])
Jesus invited His closest friends to support Him, but they fell asleep. What does this teach us about the role and limitations of community during our difficult times? ([29:23])
The sermon says that rest is not just about physical withdrawal but about spiritual renewal. How does Jesus’ example in the garden help us understand the difference? ([12:09])

Application Questions

The sermon says, “Hitting pause doesn’t mean you’re quitting. It means you recognize that sometimes you have to stop to keep going.” What are some practical ways you can “hit pause” in your own life this week? ([03:55])
Have you ever felt like your worth was tied to your productivity or how much you could accomplish? How has this affected your willingness to rest? ([16:56])
Jesus was honest and vulnerable in His prayers, even repeating the same request multiple times. Is there something you need to bring to God honestly and persistently in prayer right now? ([31:22])
The sermon talks about “grind culture” and generational exhaustion. Are there patterns in your family or culture that make it hard for you to rest? What would it look like to resist those patterns? ([16:56])
When have you experienced a “crushing” season in your life? Looking back, can you see any ways God brought something good or new out of that experience? ([24:36])
Jesus called on His friends for support, even though they let Him down. Who are the people you can reach out to for support when you need to pause? How can you be that support for someone else? ([27:32])
The sermon compares rest to a pit stop in a race, where you get what you need to keep going. What would a “pit stop” look like for you spiritually, emotionally, or physically? What’s one step you can take this week to make that happen? ([41:28])

Sermon Clips

To hit pause doesn't mean you're quitting, it means you're getting a breather, means you're pulling away because sometimes the game can get too intense, sometimes the game can get a little frustrating, sometimes the game can get so overwhelming that you have to hit the pause button. [00:06:30] (22 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus knows what it's like to be hungry. He knows what it's like to be tired. He knows what it's like to be thirsty. He knows what it's like to be angry. He knows what it's like to grieve a loss of a loved one. He knows what it's like to experience joy. Jesus had the full human experience. [00:20:44] (20 seconds) Edit Clip

If you feel crushed in this season, that is not a sign that God has given up on you, nah. It's a sign that God got you right where God needs you to be. If you feel broken in this season, that ain't a sign that God left you. That is a sign that you are right in the hands of God. Because sometimes God has to crush you in order to get the best out of you. There is no anointing without the crushing. There is no elevation without the crushing. There is no promotion without the crushing. There's a crushing season that all of us have to endure. [00:25:29] (39 seconds) Edit Clip

When he hit the pause button, he called on community. He said, I need my boys with this. I need my boys to help me with this. I need Peter, James, John. Y 'all come with me. We finna go up to this garden. We finna have a prayer meeting. I need some friends that can have my back in prayer. [00:27:48] (19 seconds) Edit Clip

Beware of people who wide awake on your mountain experiences, but want to go to sleep on you while you stressed out in your garden. I just don't need folk wide awake in the mountain. I need folk who are wide awake in my valley that can let me know God's got your back while you're going through. [00:30:26] (20 seconds) Edit Clip

God will exchange your pain for rest. God will exchange your heaviness for rest because there is rest that God has promised us. Is there anybody that can testify? It is well, it is well with my soul. [00:43:57] (19 seconds) Edit Clip

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