Holy Restlessness: What Nehemiah Teaches Leaders About Rest

IN THE TRENCHES | ERIC GEIGER

My favorite chapter in Nehemiah is the last one. It is not the chapter with a completed wall, but the one where Nehemiah discovers upon his return to Jerusalem that the people break every single one of their promises. It is my favorite chapter because of the raw honesty of the challenges in leading. And because in the midst of perceived failure, we see Nehemiah’s resolve. He responds with a holy restlessness.

What is holy restlessness in leadership? Restlessness will always exist in ministry leaders because drift naturally occurs in the ministries we lead and the people we shepherd. As D.A. Carson has pointed out, we don’t drift into godliness and obedience but from it. We are prone to wander. Just as the vehicles we drive become misaligned over time, there is inevitable drift away from stated vision or values. A misaligned car requires the intervention of a mechanic, and a misaligned team or ministry needs intervention from a restless spiritual leader. Your restlessness can be holy.

Nehemiah’s restlessness is on full display as he challenges the people to repent, inspects their commitments, reminds them of their holy calling, and addresses every area of their disobedience. Nehemiah 13 can be an exhausting read, but a resonating one for ministry leaders as the work is never done.

Restlessness may be common among leaders, but not all restlessness is sacred. Nehemiah’s restlessness was sacred because his ambition was for God and the people. His restlessness was also sacred because it intermingled with rest.

Nehemiah ends the book of Nehemiah resting in God’s wisdom and providence for the people, for himself, and even for those who had wronged him: “Remember them, my God, for defiling the priesthood … Remember me, my God, with favor” (13:29, 31).

Trust God

Nehemiah rested not because every problem was solved, but because he trusted the One who governs all things. He rested in God, knowing that God is the One who avenges and the One who justifies. He served the people both with compassion and correction, but he did not place his hope in their perfection. His hope was in his perfect God.

It is really hard to keep resting though. A recurring struggle in my life is finding my identity in something other than Jesus—which is always something less than Jesus. Based on conversations I have had with other leaders, I have concluded that being a leader who is passionate for the work and the people can worsen the disease of misplaced identity. Yes, we must steward our roles well, but in our sinfulness, we can start to find our identity in them. Our work is not finished and never will be, but the work of Jesus for us is. We must preach that good news to ourselves continually, that we have been rescued by the One who promises us rest.

Eric Geiger is the senior pastor of Mariners Church in Southern California and the author of several church leadership books. His latest book, The Rooted Leader, releases in August 2026.