Resting in the Lord: Serving from Rest + Overflow
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Yesterday, while cleaning my children's bedroom, and with all honesty with some frustration, I was listening to my favorite audio Bible, "The Word Of Promise" on Audible. It's a really well done and theatrical portrayal of the bible with wonderful actors doing the voice overs, Jim Caviezel actually does the voice of Jesus! While listening, I was stopped in my tracks and of course convicted while listening. There was a verse that really struck me as profound, which I will get to in a moment after giving a little back story on why it was so striking.
Recently, I have been serving a lot more in my community. I feel blessed to do so, my body is able, I have the resources, the desire and the time. After attending a recent event to explore more options of how I can serve my community even more, I found myself also feeling like there are more needs to meet than there are people to meet them or time for me to serve for all of the areas.
While at the event I had several large pots of turkey stock cooking down at home, so I was distracted by this and my attention divided enough that it was noticeable. I seemed distracted. A dear friend spoke it out, "Emily, seems like you have something on your heart." I said "Oh do I seem sad?" and she replied "No, just that you have something on your heart." I told her, "I have a lot of turkey bone stock cooking at home, and my mind is on my cooking." We laughed and I found it telling that my focus was where my heart is.
I love cooking for the youth group so much! It feeds my soul. Not only that, it's easy! I can't help but feel awestruck when others have expressed to me that it would be way too stressful for them, but that they notice I seem content, relaxed, joyful and focused while I am cooking these large meals. Then again, I look at how they serve and can't help but think the same about their work! I really do feel the way that I seem to feel in the kitchen and I'm surprised that I don't even break a sweat cooking for 50 or more people. I truly believe it isn't my own strength but God's grace that makes it possible for me to serve in this way
1 Corinthians 15:10 puts it this way –
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
I am what I am.
I am an enthusiastic mama who loves to nourish her family. One of my greatest joys is sharing in the bounty and watching as children and adults are nourished by real food made by my hands with the anointing that God has put on me to do so, knowing I have prayed over the food, that blessings and thanksgiving have been made over this food and I believe it is filling the bellies of the young disciples of Jesus of this nation who will gather to the Lord many more who are far from Him.
But the truth is, I came away from the event feeling like I just am not enough. With some time, I have accepted this is true. While I may not be enough to be there in every volunteer role I at least want to know how I can encourage others. I sat in to learn the needs for the Kid's ministry, Women's Ministry and Worship Band which was revelatory. So much goes into serving this church community and I am so grateful for everyone who is involved. I recognized that I have my strengths and I have my areas where serving is both easy and enjoyable and then there are areas that not only challenge me but do not interest me at all. I also recognize that at some point, we all have to know how to say "No, I'm sorry I can't serve in this way, though I would love to."
This is not an article intending to dissuade anyone from serving their community, rather a bid for a change in heart posture if you have found yourself feeling burdened by service or that you are self sacrificing beyond what is healthy. I believe we all benefit when we are participating in meaningful ways in our community and it blesses not only ourselves but those we serve. So lets start with the verse that has inspired my revelation that I heard on The Word of Promise and I pray the Holy Spirit be upon you as you too, dive into the revelation of Resting in the Lord:
Hebrews 4:10 (KJV) states:
"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his."
This verse speaks about entering into God’s rest, which is a theme in Hebrews 4. The passage compares the Sabbath rest that God took after creation (Genesis 2:2) to the spiritual rest believers enter through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ceasing from Works – This does not mean inactivity, but rather resting from striving for salvation through works. It aligns with Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30, where He calls the weary to come to Him for rest.
God’s Example – Just as God rested on the seventh day after creation, those who trust in Christ enter into His finished work, ceasing from their own labor to earn righteousness.
Spiritual Rest in Christ – The ultimate rest spoken of here is eternal rest in Christ, both in this life and in the fullness of God's Kingdom.
Why Might Someone Feel This Way?
- Legalism vs. Grace – Some believers have been taught that their salvation or standing with God is based on their performance rather than on grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Fear of Judgment – If someone fears that not doing enough good works will make God displeased with them, they are still operating under a works-based mindset.
- Identity in Works, Not in Christ – If a person finds their worth in what they do rather than in who they are in Christ, they may struggle to enter into God’s rest.
- Not Trusting God to Work Through Them – Sometimes, people feel they must always be doing something for God, rather than allowing Him to lead them in good works naturally (Philippians 2:13).
What Is True Rest?
- Rest does not mean inaction, but rather trusting that God is at work in you and through you.
- Good works flow from relationship, not obligation (John 15:5 – "Apart from Me, you can do nothing").
- True obedience is joyful, not burdensome (1 John 5:3).
- Rest is a state of faith—believing that God's grace is sufficient, and that He will guide you to the works He has prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10).
How to Shift from Guilt to Rest?
- Reframe Good Works – Instead of "I must do this or I am failing," shift to "God is working through me, and I trust Him to guide me."
- Identify False Guilt – If guilt is driving action, ask: Is this from God or from my own expectations?
- Receive God's Love Fully – If someone knows they are already fully loved by God, they can serve out of love, not fear.
- Rest in Christ's Work – Acknowledge that Jesus already accomplished what we could never do. Our part is to abide in Him, and works will follow naturally.
I created this list to help us discern whether our good works are flowing from rest in Christ or from compulsion and guilt. Reflecting on the following questions and signs can help us to put away any confusion and gain clarity on where we are serving from:
Self-Reflection Questions:
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Why am I doing this?
- Is it because I feel guilty or afraid of what will happen if I don’t?
- Or is it because I feel led by God and joyful in doing it?
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Do I feel pressure or peace?
- Does doing this bring stress, exhaustion, or resentment?
- Or does it bring a sense of purpose, peace, and fulfillment?
-
Am I trying to prove something?
- Do I feel I need to earn God’s approval or prove my worth?
- Or do I know I am already fully loved and accepted in Christ?
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What happens when I don’t do the work?
- Do I feel condemned, anxious, or like a failure?
- Or do I trust that God’s plan doesn’t depend solely on me and that He will accomplish His will through me in His timing?
-
Do I feel burdened or empowered?
- Does this work feel like a heavy weight that I must carry?
- Or do I feel strengthened by God as I do it?
Signs Your Works Are from Rest in Christ:
✅ You feel peace and joy even in hard work (Matthew 11:28-30).
✅ You trust that God is in control, not just your efforts (Philippians 1:6).
✅ You’re led by the Holy Spirit, not guilt or pressure (Romans 8:14).
✅ You’re not afraid of saying no when necessary (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
✅ You don’t feel condemned when you rest or take time for yourself (Romans 8:1).
Signs Your Works Are from Compulsion or Guilt:
❌ You feel anxious, guilty, or afraid if you don’t do something.
❌ You believe God is displeased with you when you aren’t constantly serving.
❌ You compare yourself to others and feel like you’re never doing enough.
❌ You experience burnout and exhaustion without replenishment.
❌ You struggle to rest, even when you need to.
Steps to Shift from Works-Based Thinking to Rest:
- Renew Your Mind – Remind yourself of Hebrews 4:10 and other scriptures about trusting God’s work in you (Romans 12:2).
- Practice Saying No – Trust that God’s plan does not depend on your constant effort (Luke 10:38-42 – Martha vs. Mary).
- Abide in Christ – Let good works flow naturally from a relationship with Jesus (John 15:5).
- Release the Burden – Pray: "Lord, I trust You to guide my steps. I do not need to prove myself, for You have already called me worthy in Christ."
- Take Time to Rest – Embrace the truth that resting in God is obedience (Exodus 33:14).
God does not call us to serve out of guilt, but out of love and obedience that comes from rest. His yoke is easy, and when you walk in alignment with Him, the work you do will bring peace, not pressure.
For example, I have a desire to feed the hungry and while this is a beautiful reflection of God’s heart, if it comes with pressure, guilt, or exhaustion, I have to take pause and reflect on whether this is a Holy Spirit-led burden or a self-imposed weight.
To reflect and gain better insight, these questions help me to explore how to walk in God’s rest while still fulfilling my calling. I invite you to reflect from a place of neutral awareness as well:
Where Is the Pressure Coming From?
Ask yourself:
- Do I feel that if I don’t do it, no one else will?
- Do I believe God is disappointed in me when I don’t help?
- Am I acting out of fear, guilt, or obligation rather than trust and joy?
If your motivation is fear-based, it may not be God’s burden but a self-imposed one.
When in doubt, We go to the Scripture. So, What Does Scripture Say About Feeding the Hungry?
God calls us to care for the poor, but He does not want us to do so in a way that leads to burnout or pressure.
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God Provides, Not Us Alone: "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose." (Philippians 2:13)
→ I am not solely responsible for feeding the hungry—God is the Provider. -
Jesus Rested Even with Needs Around Him: "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31)
→ Jesus didn’t meet every need immediately—He took time to rest. -
Giving Should Be Joyful, Not Burdensome: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
→ God never wants giving to feel like an oppressive duty.
Are You Trusting God’s Provision?
- God is responsible for feeding the hungry, not me alone.
- I am one piece of His plan, but He has many hands at work.
- I don’t have to solve world hunger—just be obedient to what He asks of me in this season.
How to Serve From Rest, Not Pressure
In this next series of questions, we will be reflecting on those who feel the same desire to fulfill the need of feeding the hungry. But please fill in these questions with what relates to what you may be feeling a strong pressure to do, it may not be feeding the hungry it may be sharing the Gospel or serving our community in another important way. Just know, you are called to peace and rest and while these questions can feel challenging to answer I believe it will be really beneficial if this is something you are struggling with as well.
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Ask God What Your Role Is Right Now
- Pray: "Lord, what is my part in feeding the hungry today? Show me where to act and where to rest."
- Some seasons may involve direct action, while others may be prayer, fundraising, or encouraging others.
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Trust That God Will Fill in the Gaps
- Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21).
- God takes small efforts and multiplies them.
- If you can’t cook a meal today, trust that God is still at work.
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Allow Others to Help
- You don’t have to do it alone.
- Invite others into the mission—your role may be to inspire, not to do all the work yourself.
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Set Healthy Boundaries
- Ask yourself: What is sustainable?
- If you’re exhausted, you can’t serve well.
- It is okay to rest and trust that God is still working.
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Find Joy in Serving, Not Burden
- Shift from “I must do this” → “I get to partner with God in this.”
- If joy is missing, pause and realign with God’s peace.
Let Go of the Weight
Jesus doesn’t want you carrying this burden alone. His invitation is:
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
- You are NOT responsible for every hungry person.
- You do NOT have to say yes to every need.
- You CAN rest and still be obedient to God’s calling.
Instead of carrying pressure, ask:
"Lord, what do You want me to do today, and where do You want me to rest?"
He will guide you into peaceful obedience rather than pressure-filled striving.
To create a balanced approach to serving while protecting my peace I have started using a clear framework that allows me to serve with joy, wisdom, and rest rather than guilt and pressure that are self-imposed. While we are using my personal experience as the framework, you can absolutely apply this to your own experience of there being great needs in the world that you want to be a part of fulfilling. Again, fill in any areas that apply to where you serve.
Define Your Role in Feeding the Hungry
Instead of feeling responsible for all the hungry, clarify your role:
- Are you called to cook meals?
- Do you feel led to fundraise or donate?
- Would organizing a community effort be sustainable for you?
- Are you called to pray for provisions and open doors?
➤ Write down your specific calling.If you’re unsure, pray:"Lord, how do You want me to serve in this season?"
Set Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries prevent burnout while ensuring long-term service.
✅ Set realistic limits:
- "I will cook for X number of people per week/month."
- "I will volunteer once a month instead of weekly."
- "I will contribute financially instead of physically cooking."
✅ Allow space for rest:
- Schedule breaks just as you schedule service.
- Jesus rested—even when crowds needed Him (Mark 6:31).
- You are more effective when serving from overflow, not exhaustion.
✅ Let go of false guilt:
- You don’t have to say yes to every need.
- If God is leading you to rest, He will provide through others.
- Trust that God is the ultimate Provider, not you (Philippians 4:19).
Create a Sustainable Serving Plan
Now that you know your role and boundaries, create a manageable serving plan. For someone like myself who feels that the need to be fed is great, below you'll find some inspiration of how to build your own sustainable serving plan.
Example Approaches:
🔹 Meal Prep Approach (If you love cooking)
- Cook one big meal weekly and distribute it.
- Freeze extra meals for times you’re too busy to cook.
- Share the responsibility—invite friends to cook together.
- Set a monthly donation to a food ministry.
- Organize a small fundraiser or ask for donations instead of gifts for birthdays/holidays.
- Start a food drive in your church or neighborhood.
- Partner with local shelters or churches to see what’s needed.
- Pray for resources, volunteers, and breakthrough in hunger relief efforts.
- Encourage others in your community to get involved.
Rest is a form of obedience. God calls us to work and rest (Exodus 20:8-10).
➤ If serving feels like a burden, pause and realign.
➤ Ask: "Am I doing this from love or fear?"
Daily Alignment Check:
✅ Did I serve from joy, not obligation?
✅ Did I trust God to provide, rather than feeling like it all depends on me?
✅ Did I allow myself to rest without guilt?
5. Pray and Release the Pressure
Whenever you feel overwhelmed or guilty, pray this release prayer:
"Lord, I trust that You are the Provider, not me.
I surrender my desire to control outcomes.
Help me serve from love, not fear.
Show me where to act and where to rest.
I believe You will multiply my efforts in ways I cannot see.
Let me serve in joy, peace, and alignment with Your will.
In Jesus’ name, Amen."
Remember, work is the effort of our own hand and what we can do to change and influence any given situation in a tangible way. When we enter into the state of rest we are actually allowing ourselves to trust in the Lord's provision. We are ushering in and inviting the presence of God to move blessings to us and through our lives. We essentially are getting out of the way for miracles to abound.
Philippians 4:6 puts it this way
Be anxious for nothing (Remain in Rest, God is in control)
but in everything by Prayer and Supplication (Supplication is the earnest, humble and yet bold plea or bid for your request to be heard and granted, making your desires known to the Lord while believing he has the desire to meet your need.)
with thanksgiving (Again, this is another state of rest, knowing that He is intent to answer our prayers, we are not begging from a place of fear, but communicating our need and desire from a place of gratitude, knowing He is intent to answer our prayer)
Let your request be known to God. (This isn't a time to be shy or fearful, but asking your Father in Heaven from a place of knowing, not fearing He won't hear you, but knowing He already knows the desires of your heart, this is also for you to make known to yourself the desires of your heart)
Some of us fall back into a pattern of serving to feel worthy of the grace and mercy we did not earn, and this can really take the wind out of our sails for service. When we are serving from a place of lack of faith and lack of belief we are not in a place of rest, because we are not putting our faith in God's provision. It is its own kind of disobedience to God. We must remember, that the Israelites who did not enter the promised land did not do so because they refused to take rest in the Lord, believing fully in His providence and not what can be done by the work of their own hands. Hebrews 4:6 reminds us of this:
- Hebrews 4:6 – “Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience.”
- The Israelites had the promise, but they did not enter because of unbelief and self-reliance (Numbers 14:22-23).
- They saw God’s miracles but still trusted their own reasoning over His word, leading to 40 years of wandering.
- Many believers today fall into the same pattern: striving in their own strength instead of resting in God's provision.
Changing our heart posture to one of serving out of the abundance of gratitude and joy that are the result of knowing we are in a position of adoption as a child of God, we can then go out into the world with the desire to uphold the values of the House of the Lord by loving God fully and our neighbors without reservation, thereby glorifying God and serving from the overflow.