The Beauty of Resting and Rising

There was a season in my life when I became quite addicted to baking bread. I remember it so clearly our son, David, was around six years old when we discovered he was having frequent skin rashes. We couldn’t figure out the cause. His doctor advised us to try a gluten-free diet until we could identify what triggered his allergies. At that time, I was both worried and overwhelmed. When I researched what foods we should avoid, I was alarmed. Almost every food David loved had gluten in it.

As a mother, it broke my heart to see my son’s limited food options. I wanted him to still enjoy eating without fear of allergic reactions. So, I decided to do something new. I thought, maybe I could make our own bread from scratch. I read that handmade bread is often better than the commercial ones because it doesn’t contain as many preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. That discovery gave me hope and so began my bread-making journey. 

The Early Days of Kneading and Waiting

Hear me out it wasn’t easy. My first few tries were far from successful. The dough didn’t rise as it should, or sometimes it came out too hard. There were days when I just wanted to give up. But something in me kept pushing. I wanted to do it for David, and along the way, I found myself actually enjoying it.

There was something about the process that became therapeutic. Kneading the dough by hand, waiting for it to rest, watching it slowly rise it gave me time to slow down. I remember the smell of the freshly baked bread filling our kitchen, and the joy I felt when my boys my husband and son would eat the bread with such delight. That feeling was worth every failed attempt.

Hands down to all those who bake for a living or the mothers from older generations who did this daily for their families! Baking bread takes patience, attention, and heart. It’s not just about mixing ingredients it’s about waiting and trusting the process.

Nowadays, I don’t bake as often as before because of time constraints, and praise God, David has outgrown his skin rashes hallelujah! Still, every time I bake bread, I remember the lessons God taught me through the process. I even dream that someday, if time allows, I’ll try making sourdough bread, which takes even more patience and care.

Follow my Baking Reflections:
👉 More than Bread 
👉 God's Great Gift to You 
👉Knowing your Purpose 
👉Teaching Our Children to Trust and to Give

The Beauty of Resting and Rising

You know what I’ve learned from baking bread? It’s not just about the recipe or the technique it’s about the resting and rising.

When yeast is activated, it starts to work quietly and invisibly inside the dough. It takes time. The dough must rest to rise properly. If you rush it, the bread will be dense and flat. But when you let it rest and give it the right amount of time, warmth, and environment, something beautiful happens it expands, it grows, and it becomes ready to be shaped and baked.

I realized that the process of making bread is a lot like our spiritual life. There are moments when God allows us to rest times when nothing seems to be happening, when we feel like we’re just waiting in silence. But those are the moments when God is working within us. He is strengthening our faith, refining our hearts, and preparing us for what’s next.

Just like the yeast quietly working through the dough, the Holy Spirit works within us, even when we don’t see it.

Resting in God’s Timing

In the busyness of life, it’s easy to think that resting is unproductive. We often feel guilty when we stop, as if rest means we’re wasting time. But in God’s design, rest is not a waste it’s preparation.

Think about how bread dough needs to rest before it can rise. If you knead it too long or refuse to give it time, it won’t turn out right. The same is true for us. If we keep pushing and striving without resting in God’s presence, we become spiritually dry and worn out.

Matthew 11:28 says,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

This invitation from Jesus is not just for those who are tired physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. He wants us to stop striving on our own and to trust Him with our pace and process.

When we rest in His Word, when we pause to pray, when we take time to reflect on His goodness we are allowing Him to restore our soul.

And after the rest comes the rise.

Rising in God’s Strength

The rising happens when the dough has been properly rested and is ready to be shaped. Similarly, after we rest in God’s presence, He calls us to rise to move forward in faith, to serve, to love, and to grow.

Isaiah 40:31 reminds us,

“But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Waiting and resting are not passive. They are active forms of faith. While we wait, God renews our strength. He lifts us up so we can rise again.

There are times when we may feel stuck, unnoticed, or forgotten, but in those seasons, God is preparing us for something greater. Like dough rising in the warmth, our hearts are being shaped by His grace.

6 Ways to Reflect on Rest and Rise

Here are six ways we can learn to rest and rise in our daily walk with God, along with Bible verses, practical applications, and short prayers you can use.

1. Rest in God’s Presence

Verse: Psalm 46:10 — “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Reflection: Stillness allows us to hear God’s voice. When life gets too noisy, pause and acknowledge that He is in control.
Practical Application: Spend at least 10 minutes each morning in quiet prayer or reflection before starting your day.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to be still before You. Help me rest in Your presence and trust that You are working even when I can’t see it.

2. Rest in God’s Word

Verse: Matthew 4:4 — “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Reflection: Just as bread nourishes the body, God’s Word nourishes the soul.
Practical Application: Read one chapter of the Bible each day and write down one truth you can apply.
Prayer: Father, fill me with the bread of life—Your Word. Let it strengthen me and renew my mind.

3. Rise in Faith

Verse: Mark 9:23 — “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Reflection: When God calls you to move, rise in faith even if you don’t see the full picture.
Practical Application: Take one small step of obedience today—send that message, pray for that person, or start that ministry idea.
Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to rise in faith and obey You, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

4. Rise in Hope

Verse: Romans 15:13 — “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.”
Reflection: Hope is not wishful thinking—it’s trusting that God’s promises are true.
Practical Application: Write down three things you’re thankful for each night before bed. Gratitude strengthens hope.
Prayer: God of hope, renew my heart. Help me rise each day with joy and peace that comes from trusting You.

5. Rest in Community

Verse: Galatians 6:2 — “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Reflection: God didn’t design us to walk alone. We find rest and strength through fellowship and prayer with others.
Practical Application: Reach out to a friend or church member who might need encouragement today.
Prayer: Lord, help me find rest in the love of Your people. Make me a vessel of comfort to those around me.

6. Rise in Grace

Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Reflection: Even when we fail or fall short, God’s grace lifts us up.
Practical Application: When you make a mistake, instead of condemning yourself, take it to God in prayer and receive His forgiveness.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your amazing grace that helps me rise again. Let my life reflect Your mercy and goodness.

God’s Amazing Work in Us

When I look back at my bread-baking season, I realize it wasn’t just about feeding my family it was also about how God was feeding my soul. Through every rise and fall of the dough, He reminded me that His timing is perfect.

There are moments in life when we feel like we’re in the “resting” stage waiting for something to happen, waiting for a prayer to be answered, waiting for healing or provision. But even in that waiting, God is working.

And when the time comes, He allows us to rise to experience breakthroughs, to see answered prayers, to grow in maturity and faith.

If you’re in a season of rest right now, don’t rush it. Let God shape you quietly. And if you’re in a season of rising, give Him glory for the work He’s done. Both seasons are necessary. Both are beautiful.

So today, as you go through your daily routines whether it’s cooking, working, teaching, or caring for your family remember the lesson from bread: Rest and Rise.

Let your heart be still, and let God do His work in you.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the simple yet powerful lessons You reveal through everyday life. Teach us to rest in Your presence and rise in Your strength. When we feel weary, remind us that You are our source of renewal. Help us to trust Your timing, to wait patiently, and to walk faithfully. May our lives reflect the beauty of Your work in us—just as the dough rests and rises to become something wonderful, may we also rest and rise in Your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Blessed Resting & Rising!
Tess 💕🙏