How to Quiet the Chaos of Busyness with a Rhythm of Rest

We live in the busiest society the world has ever known. Technology promises to make life easier, but instead of freeing us, it often chains us to longer hours—nearly half of office workers admit they’re working more because of it. The average person now spends over six hours a day online, mostly scrolling through endless social feeds. And though we’re drowning in productivity tools, 82% of people don’t use any system at all to manage their time.

So, we rush from one task to the next, cutting corners on sleep, skipping meals, ignoring exercise, and neglecting our spiritual health—all in the name of getting more done. The result? We feel exhausted, distracted, and spiritually starved.

Left unchecked, it steals our rest, dulls our connection with God, and silences his voice. It leaves us overwhelmed and underprepared. But Scripture invites us into a different rhythm—a life shaped by God’s own design of work and rest, where our bodies are restored, our minds are renewed, and our spirits are nourished.

God’s Rhythm of Rest

From the very beginning, God wove rest into creation. Six days for labor, one day for rest. He embedded this pattern into our time, our bodies, and our souls. A Sabbath rhythm is not an outdated law—it’s a gift, a life-giving principle.

When we honor rhythms of work and rest, we step into God’s design. Without them, stress and distraction take over. As Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29 NIV).

Nehemiah: A Leader Who Knew When to Rest

The people of Jerusalem were overwhelmed. Under Nehemiah’s leadership, they were rebuilding the city walls—an urgent, exhausting, and dangerous task. Their enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah, hurled insults, mocked their work, and even plotted attacks to derail their progress. Pressure mounted. Fatigue set in. The workers admitted, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall” (Nehemiah 4:10 NIV).

This was more than just a construction project; it was a matter of survival. And yet, Nehemiah saw what many leaders miss: relentless work without rest leads to collapse. Instead of driving the people harder, he adjusted the rhythm of their labor to work smarter. He divided the responsibilities—half the men worked while the other half stood guard, and even those who carried materials worked with one hand while holding a weapon with the other (Nehemiah 4:16-18). In this way, Nehemiah ensured progress continued, but not at the expense of the people’s strength and safety.

The result? What seemed impossible was accomplished in record time. “So the wall was finished… in fifty-two days” (Nehemiah 6:15). Nehemiah proved that balance—not burnout—is what produces lasting success.

Later, Nehemiah applied the same principle to the Sabbath. He commanded the people to cease trading and business on that holy day, closing the city gates to protect their time of rest (Nehemiah 10:31; 13:15-22). Nehemiah’s leadership shows us that true productivity is not found in constant busyness but in aligning our lives with God’s purposes.

When we choose rest, we are not losing time—we are gaining perspective, strength, and peace. Nehemiah’s wisdom reminds us that busyness without boundaries steals more than energy; it robs us of the joy and clarity that come only from time spent in God’s presence.

Practical Steps to Overcome Busyness

1. Recognize – Honestly assess your schedule. Is it so full that you have no time for rest, prayer, or reflection? Are you using busyness as a way to avoid addressing deeper issues?
2. Repent – Admit when you’ve allowed busyness to replace intimacy with God. Pray Matthew 11:28-30 back to him, asking for God’s rest to replace your striving.
3. Renounce – Identify the root of your busyness. Is it poor time management? Distraction? Fear of saying no? A need for approval? Bring it before God, ask him to break its hold, and declare freedom in Christ.
4. Renew – Fill your mind with God’s word. Reflect daily on verses like Psalm 116:7 NIV (“Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you”) or Hebrews 4:10 ESV (“for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his”).
5. Restructure – Build rhythms of work, rest, and worship into your days. Protect Sabbath time—guard space for prayer, silence, and family.

Living Free from Busyness

Busyness is an enemy of peace, but it doesn’t have to rule your life. Choosing rest isn’t laziness—it’s obedience. When you pause to sit at Jesus’ feet, you gain clarity, strength, and peace that fuel everything else.

Let’s be intentional this week: cut out what distracts, carve out time to rest, and prioritize what is eternal. When we seek his kingdom first, everything else falls into place (Matthew 6:33).

Coming Up: Next week, we take a deep dive into the fruit of patience. You’ll discover the secret to maintaining patience with people who push your buttons, everyday challenges you face, and when waiting for an answer to prayer!  

Do you want to learn how to walk in freedom with Christ and cultivate biblical peace?
Explore our other thought-provoking posts in this series on our Fruits of Faith Blog and look for Gerald’s book, Perfect Peace, which is coming soon to Amazon.