In today’s world, we often wear “busyness” like a busy badge of honor, as though a packed schedule proves our worth. “Busy-badge” culture tells us that hard work and constant activity are the only way to get ahead, whether in personal life, business, or as homemakers. From the grocery store to social media, we see busy people everywhere, sharing long to-do lists, new projects, and packed calendars. But is being endlessly busy truly a good thing?
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30, ESV
This past week, I had a mentally busy week. On top of that, my pregnant brain wasn’t working well and at one point, I was chasing my Ford Explorer down a county highway with my four children inside. I’ll leave it at that because I’m sure that sounds incredibly sketchy. I promise you that it all ended positively and I was scared out of my mind. After texting my husband, he called me and told me I needed to take a vacation. I think I agree with him and am working on a time frame for a few days off.
God calls us not to constant striving but to a life of balance, with space for family time, reflection, and time with Him. We need to understand the balance between spending too much time on quality work, and also understanding and living out the importance of quality with those things that matter. Busyness may help us achieve much in the short term, but in the long run, the “busy-badge” life often leaves us feeling empty. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek God’s Kingdom first, promising that all else will follow. True fulfillment comes not from a packed calendar but from important things aligned with God’s priorities.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
The Trap of the Busy Badge of Honor
In our culture, busyness can almost become a status symbol. The busy badge of honor makes us look around and wonder if we’re doing “enough,” even though we’re working so hard. We may even start to look up to people who always seem to be “doing,” as though they have found the best way to live. But while striving, many of us overlook God’s call to rest. He didn’t design us to fill every hour of the day with tasks. Jesus Himself regularly retreated to be alone with His Father.
I’ve had people occasionally tell me that they wish I’d make my life look more realistic and that I’m setting unrealistic expectations for other women. Usually, this is in reference to Instagram and I like to gently and as kindly as possible tell people that they should probably silence or unfollow me for a time. I don’t mean that in a bad way.
There’s one certain account on Instagram that makes me feel like an insignificant bug sometimes with everything this content creator does. I often have to silence her account for a time to keep myself from diving into the trap of comparison and attempting to do all that she does.
God gives us each a certain capacity and we have seasons of life when our capacities will be different. I like to think of capacity with the visual of mason jars. God may give me a pint-size mason jar and I will fill that mason jar to capacity. Similarly, God may give someone else a quart mason jar and they will have that filled to capacity too. Both our capacities are maxed out. Just because we have different-sized capacities, doesn’t mean that we are not both maxed out.
This has actually helped me think through different seasons of my life. When I was working with only one child, my capacity was different, but my capacity was most certainly at the filled level. I’m still working now with four children and an upcoming fifth, and God has graciously given me a larger capacity, but it’s again, most certainly full.
There’s a difference between feeling pride and being prideful. It’s easy to become a “busy bragger,” talking about all the things we’ve been doing, posting about our packed days, and feeling prideful in the never-ending schedule. This busy-badge culture subtly tells us that to be truly worthy, we need to fill our lives to the brim. We should and can fill the capacity that God has given us, but we need to fill it with the right things.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” —
Psalm 46:10
We often hear about the importance of time management, but sometimes, what we need is less about managing time and more about trusting God with it. Constant busyness can have negative effects on our physical and mental well-being, stealing away the joy we’re meant to experience in our daily lives, particularly in roles as mothers and homemakers. Especially with young children, we may feel like there’s so much to do. But what they need most is not a mom who does it all, but one who is present, setting aside their busy schedules and giving them quality time.
Embracing a Slower Pace: 3 Action Steps
If we want to follow God’s call to rest and resist the allure of busyness, here are three simple steps to help us realign.
1. Focus on What Has the Most Value
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33, ESV
Our days come with a limited number of hours of the day, so it’s important to prioritize. It’s easy to get caught up in “good stuff” but miss out on the best that God has for us. Instead of giving into the pressure of busy seasons, let’s pause and ask ourselves: What holds the most value? Make a list of three key priorities for your role as a mother and homemaker. These could be nurturing your family’s faith, creating a peaceful home, or strengthening your marriage.
Once these priorities are clear, use them to filter out anything that doesn’t align with them. Taking on a new project might sound exciting, but if it won’t bring value to your own life or your family, it may be worth letting go. When we focus on what God has for us, we find much value in a life that’s simpler, but deeply fulfilling.
2. Create Pockets of True Rest
“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15, ESV
God calls us to a life that includes intentional rest. But in our world of cell phones and constant notifications, finding true rest can feel impossible. If we want to escape the busy-badge culture, we must intentionally make space for stillness in our days.
I could mention all the normal ways we hear about finding pockets of rest, but instead, I think I’ll mention two ways in which I’m creating pockets of peace right now. They are pretty simple, so don’t get too excited! But I would encourage you to think through exceptionally simple ways to produce these pockets of peace, because often simple is still impactful.
One of the ways is by lighting one of my clean-burning Milk House candles in the morning before reading my Bible. I know it sounds so over simplistic, but it creates such a beautiful glow in the house that it truly brings an atmosphere of peace.
The second is a little more practical. Maybe you’ll be able to relate to this one a bit more. I love Christmas, which you may have already been able to tell by all my social media and YouTube content surrounding Christmas. I also love music that I would deem relaxing. I’m going to probably sound like a clown, but I love piano instrumental music by Paul Cardall, David Lanz, Lori Line, Narada, and James Quinn just to name a few.
This is the music that surrounds our home and it’s probably one of the biggest pockets of peace that brings me rest, and honestly, I think it does my children as well. Calming music can be very powerful.
As mothers and homemakers, we can set an example for our families. Let’s show our children that rest is not something to feel guilty about, but rather an important rhythm that God designed. By taking time for ourselves, we teach them to value their own rest and well-being.
3. Practice Saying “No”
“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”
Matthew 5:37, ESV
A major cause of busyness is our tendency to over-commit. Whether it’s signing up for another activity, taking on a lot of work, or saying yes to every request, overcommitting often comes from a fear of letting others down. But every time we say “yes” to one thing, we’re saying “no” to something else, often to precious free time that could have gone to family time or God.
Learning to say “no” gracefully can protect us from overloading our schedules. Consider each opportunity in light of your priorities and pray for guidance. When we honor the boundaries God has given us, we find freedom in focusing on the important things rather than just “doing.”
Closing Prayer
As we think through these things, here is a little closing prayer as we lay day our busy badge of honor.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of rest and the reminder that our worth is found in You, not in our busyness. Help us to lay aside the badge of honour that the world offers and instead embrace the peace You promise. Teach us to focus on what holds the most value, to rest in Your presence, and to prioritize the people we love. Give us the courage to say “no” when needed, and the wisdom to make choices that honor You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
As we learn to release the status symbol of busyness and embrace God’s design for rest, we find a richer, deeper joy. Being constantly busy isn’t the best way to live — it’s only one way. True freedom lies in being aligned with God’s peace and living a life that reflects His love to our families. Let’s wear His grace instead of the “busy badge.”
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