• Home
  • Blog
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Katie M. Reid

Finding Grace in the Unraveling of Life

  • Home
    • About
  • Books
    • Made Like Martha
    • A Very Bavarian Christmas
    • Judges Bible Study
  • Blog
    • Disclosure
  • Podcast
  • Speaking
  • Store
    • Resources
  • Singing
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

in Guest Post· Restoration Project

Restoration Project: Finding Rest in a Busy World

The Restoration Project 31 Day Series by Katie M Reid

Welcome to Day #23 of the Restoration Project.

I met today’s guest at the Speak Up Conference this summer. We had mutual friends who insisted that Caryn and I connect—we’re glad we listened. We stayed up late talking and brainstorming and getting to know each other. It is a joy to invite this lovely storyteller to share with you today.

Caryn Christensen bio

Caryn is wife to her BH (Better Half), mama to two beautiful daughters, and Mrs. C to her elementary school music students. She’s an ordinary woman with an extraordinary story that she seeks to live out with purpose and joy. She enjoys cream with coffee, photography and cowboy boots. You can find her at carynchristensen.com

Finding Rest In A Busy World

At the beginning of each week, my BH (Better Half) and I sit down with our respective calendars and pencil in mutual activities into our schedules. Those activities include things such as going on a bike ride or going kayaking together and visiting his mom in the nursing home. We know that if we don’t deliberately set aside the time to do these things, even though they’re important, something else will take their place.

Most recently however, we’re discovering that we also need to pencil in “down-time” as well. A time for us to each slow down, be quiet, and rest from the week’s demands.

We’re finding that if we don’t consciously create margin, it negatively affects every area of our lives, mind, body and spirit.

Because my BH and I are complete opposites in personality, our definition of rest actually looks different for each of us. My man is an introvert, but his job demands that he lead meetings all day long. So when he comes home in the evenings, he desperately needs some time to himself where he’s not talking and can enjoy the quiet. He’s also a “homebody” and prefers to spend the weekends relaxing around the house as opposed to going out and participating in an activity.

Conversely, talking relaxes me! (Anyone else feel that way?) I feel connected and more at peace when I get to participate in conversation with another adult. And because I spend more of my week at home, I start to get antsy if I’m not physically doing an activity where I can let my mind rest and just have fun.

After 31 years of marriage, obviously, we’ve found ways to compromise.

Even with all of our differences, there’s one area where we both have a tendency to become completely exhausted. Information overload.

In a world that prides itself on instant-everything, one only has to turn on the evening news or scroll through social media, to get bombarded with (mostly negative) information. The result is feeling overwhelmed. My friends, we were never meant to know everything.

Come Away by Yourselves by Caryn Christensen

One of the most effective ways to rest is to unplug.

Unplugging sounds good, but sometimes hard to surrender, because:

*We feel the need to stay connected.

*We have a fear of missing out (otherwise known as FOMO).

*Underneath it all, we believe that with enough knowledge, we can control our circumstances.

It might help to know that Christ “unplugged” when He was on this earth by removing himself from the public and getting alone to pray (Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Luke 4:42, Luke 5:16, etc.). Even though Jesus was fully God, He was also fully man. He had a limited amount of energy and felt the same constraints on his time as we do, needing to rest (often) in order to fulfill His ministry here.

So this week, when we sit down to sync our calendars, we’re adding “unplug” along with our usual methods of obtaining rest.

Resting in Him,
Caryn

What are some of the ways you are intentional about finding ways to rest?

P.S. Get caught up on Days 1-22 of the Restoration Project.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Filed Under: Guest Post, Restoration Project Tagged With: marriage, rest, scripture

Previous Post: « Restoration Project: Home and Heart Renovation
Next Post: Restoration Project: Do That Thing You’ve Been Avoiding »

Primary Sidebar

katie reid headshot

MEET KATIE

Hi, I'm Katie (a Modern Martha, wife, and mom to five). I'm so glad you're here! Let's enjoy some cut-to-the-chase conversation over hot or iced tea, as we find grace in the unraveling of life (together). Let's exchange try-hard striving for hope-filled freedom as we settle into our position as a doer and a daughter—created by a Loving Father.

Read More

Subscribe for regular updates & receive a free video series.

Made Like Martha

Made Like Martha
Buy Now

Echoes of My Heart

Echoes of My Heart CD
Buy Now

Favorites for You

25 affiliate resources for communicator creatives and busy women

This site uses affiliate links.
Click here to read the full disclosure.

Footer

Search This Site

Recent Posts

  • God, What Do I Do? Bible Study Introduction with Katie & Lee
  • Looking Back, Looking Ahead with Katie and Lee
  • Benefits of Chiropractic Care with Dr. Lianne Coombe, B.A., D.C
  • Seven Ways to Get Healthy with Kelly Cullen, ND

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 Katie M. Reid · Design by The Design Diva · Development by MRM

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT