Rest For The Restless - Make it Make Sense

”So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.” (Genesis 2:1-2, NLT)

“For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, ‘This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.’” (Psalm 132:13-14, NIV)

One afternoon, Clara and I were driving home from an oncology appointment. Sometimes I reached my hand back to hers in the booster seat—a small reassurance for both of us. She was bald, nauseous, and weary. I was bone-tired from coordinating care and putting on a brave face while strangers administered a poisonous cure.

We rode in silence while music filled the car. That year, both Audrey Assad and Sara Groves had released beautiful albums that we loved to listen to. Audrey’s song Restless came on, echoing St. Augustine’s words:

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

From the back seat, Clara asked softly, “Hey Mom… is it a sin to feel restless?”

Her question stunned me. Theologically, I didn’t know. But instinctively, I knew she needed permission to feel what was real. “No, honey,” I said gently. “God knows that sometimes it’s hard.” She sighed and looked out the window, humming with the chorus.

That question lingered with me for years: Is it a sin to feel restless?

Later, in seminary, I discovered something that reframed the question entirely. In the ancient world, “rest” meant more than relaxation. In Ancient Near Eastern creation stories, rest marked the moment the deity took the throne—when order was complete, and the world could flourish under the deity’s reign. Genesis also talks about God’s rest. He did not rest because He was tired, but because He was enthroned over a harmonious creation.

Rest in Creation, then, is not simply a nap or a breather. It is the assurance that God reigns, and creation is ordered under His care.

If I could go back to that car ride, I would tell Clara: Restlessness is not sin. It is the ache of a heart longing for the order and safety only God can provide. When we remember who God is—the One who created a good world, values humanity, provides for us, and delights in beauty—we begin to find true rest. So, feel the ache, and remember God’s goodness.

Prayer:

God, you are seated on the throne. I’m thankful for your good reign over the difficult circumstances in my life. As I feel the heartache from the brokenness, help me to also see your goodness. Draw my attention to the flowers or the birds, the trees or the blue sky. Show me your goodness in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)