There comes a point in our walk with God where He gently reminds us that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Many of us strive, push, and struggle through life, trying to make things happen through self-effort. Yet, the Lord invites us into a different way of living—one that is not born of striving but of resting in Him. This rest is not inactivity, but a Spirit-led flow, where our work becomes an outpouring of Christ within us.
Ceasing From Striving
Hebrews 4:9–10 tells us:
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”
This rest is about ceasing from striving in our own strength. When we operate in self-effort, we inevitably face burnout, frustration, and the emptiness of fruit that does not last. But when we allow Christ to live through us, the fruit we bear remains and carries eternal value (John 15:16).
God’s Flow vs. Self-Effort
Think of it this way: there are three possible flows we can live from:
- Our own strength – producing exhaustion and temporary results.
- The enemy’s flow – producing destruction, as John 10:10 reminds us: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”
- The Spirit’s flow – producing lasting fruit, peace, and transformation in us and through us.
To work from rest means choosing the third—allowing Jesus to inspire, guide, and empower every word, action, and thought.
A How-To: Learning to Work From Rest
This is why the only instruction we have been given is to learn to enter into that rest (Hebrews 4:11). It is beneficial to learn this because once you do, you cease from striving, and this makes life so much easier, more enjoyable, and more fruitful. Instead of living in stress and constant pressure, you begin to live from a place of peace, joy, and Spirit-led productivity.
Here is what has worked for me: understanding my true identity. This is where I am naturally gifted. For example, my identity is a healer. I am naturally gifted to see wounds in people’s hearts.
- When I work from self-effort: I try to speak words or take actions from my own knowledge and imagination. I strive, but I fail to meet the true emotional or spiritual needs of the person because I don’t know the perfect words to say.
- When I operate under the enemy’s influence: I can end up wounding others. Their pain might trigger insecurities in me, and instead of healing them, I may attack that wound and cause further hurt.
- When I tune in to the river of the Holy Spirit: I sense what He wants me to say or do, and this produces fruit of healing and restoration.
You can learn your identity by asking God, “Who am I?” I recommend the book Living Fearless by Jamie Winship, which has excellent resources on this. The next step is to abide in God by fellowshipping with Him through listening prayer. As you learn His voice and His character, you can ask Him what He wants you to do in each situation. When I connect with Him daily—in the cool of the day—I allow Him to pour into me, and I can then outflow to others.
Did you know that even your business can operate from this flow of the Holy Spirit? He can inspire you with new ideas and strategies. You’ll be amazed at the products or services He gives you that meet real needs. And when you meet needs, sales follow naturally. But more importantly, your work will carry eternal impact, because in the last days, only deeds done out of love will endure:
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13–15)
This means that working from an outflow of the Spirit carries rewards not only in this life but also in eternity.
Disobedience in Refusing Rest
The Bible also shows us that failing to enter God’s rest is considered disobedience:
- Hebrews 4:11 (KJV) – “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
- Hebrews 3:18–19 (KJV) – “And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
- Jeremiah 17:23 (KJV) – “But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.”
God’s desire is for us to live in obedience by trusting Him enough to rest, to yield, and to let Him work through us.
Psychological Insights on Rest and Flow
Modern psychology affirms this biblical truth. Research on flow states (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990) shows that when people engage from a place of deep alignment and focus, they experience joy, creativity, and higher performance without the stress of striving. Likewise, studies on burnout reveal that constant striving without rest drains not only the body but also the emotional and spiritual reserves. True rest—physical, emotional, and spiritual—is essential for human flourishing.
When we work from self-effort, our nervous system stays in a stress response (fight-or-flight mode). But when we learn to trust God and release control, our bodies shift into calm and restoration. This aligns with Isaiah 30:15: “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.”
Living From the Overflow of Jesus
Jesus Himself invites us:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me… and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).
Working from rest means letting Christ’s presence within us flow outward to touch others. It is about living from identity rather than performance—allowing His Spirit to minister healing, love, and truth through us in every interaction.
This shift also changes how we see our work and purpose. Marketing a book, running a business, or caring for family becomes less about what we gain and more about how we serve. As Philippians 2:4 says: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” When our motivation shifts from self-gain to love, heaven’s resources are unlocked in our lives.
An Invitation to Rest
Friend, if you are weary from striving, know that God is inviting you into His rest today. To cease from your works does not mean to do nothing—it means to allow Him to flow through you. It is to stop grasping in self-effort and start living in divine partnership with Christ. This is where true peace, joy, and fruitfulness are found.
Reflection Questions:
- In what areas of life have you been striving in your own strength?
- What would it look like to invite Jesus to flow through you in those areas?
- How can you shift your perspective from self-effort to Spirit-led rest today?
Prayer: Lord, I choose to cease from striving and enter Your rest. Work through me, inspire my words and actions, and let my life be an overflow of Your love and presence. Amen.