Jesus doesn’t offer us rest. He commands it

Our resident systematic theologian Lucy Peppiatt unpacks the New Testament’s teaching on rest

Summer’s here. And summer often means some kind of rest: a holiday, picnics, days out by the sea, sitting in the garden or the park just enjoying some sun (here’s hoping!) 

Even if we don’t live and work around school or university terms, the end of July and August feel different from the rest of the year. Cities are emptier, people email less, church rotas are pared back. It feels like a relief in lots of ways just to work to a different rhythm. But whatever the summer holds for us, it may be that we don’t get the rest we feel we need. Rest isn’t something that comes naturally to many of us and, strangely, it often needs to be re-learnt as we get older. And if you’re a busy person with a strong sense of responsibility and no off-switch, it needs to be intentionally practised!