Rest is a core part of the character and nature of God (Gen 2:1-3, Ex 33:13-14). His desire is for us to live in that rest. In the Old Covenant, God’s way of us experiencing His rest was primarily Sabbath: a time to stop and be with Him (Ex 20:8-11). Stopping is restful (Isa 11:3); being in God’s presence is restful (Ex 33:14). However, Sabbath as a day is a shadow of the true Sabbath, which is Christ (Col 2:16-17) - and this rest is so much greater (2 Cor 3) ! In Him, we get to experience being with Him, in His Presence, always (Matt 28:20) and the refreshing from that Presence (Acts 3:19-20). Furthermore, we “stop”. We cease from our works as God did from His, experiencing the rest of Christ as our righteousness and our sanctification. In this, we also experience physical rest and stopping as Christ leads us. The substance of Sabbath rest is Christ, for He is all in all.