Doing Busy Better by Glynnis Whitwer

We think we need to be busy. We get over committed. That was Whitwer's life. But then she realized Jesus invites us to an easy burden and a light yoke. She undertook a journey to find a healthy, guilt-free approach to work and rest. She shares her journey with us.

Whitwer looks at a number of areas as to why we are so busy. She helps us identify our unhealthy inner desires and how we might associate our self-esteem with our accomplishments. She writes about the blessing of work – and the lies about work. I appreciated her section on the benefits of rest, including rest for the spirit and the soul. She got to the bottom of the issue when she wrote about getting our heart right.

I really appreciated her insights. I found out that true rest starts in our hearts and souls. I really needed to be reminded that rest is not earned but is a gift and a command from God. (That insight bounced up against my deeply ingrained Dutch work ethic.) I was impressed with the teaching about how keeping the Sabbath was essential in breaking the slave mentality of the Israelites as well as an act of trusting God. Whitwer has good ideas to help us know when to quit too.

I realize in reading this book that we have enough time to do what God wants us to do. That means spending time with God to find out what it is. That means realizing where God has put us, identifying our responsibilities, understanding our abilities, and more. Whitwer gives good direction in those areas.

I recommend this book to wives and moms as that is the focus of the author. This is not a time management book with lots of practical ideas about productivity, although there are a few. This is a book through which readers can process their ideas about work and rest. Readers will need to come up with an effective way to implement the truths in this book as there are no discussion questions nor journal prompts. (You will be able to download a study guide at the author's website with proof of purchase.)

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Glynnis Whitwer is on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries as Executive Director of Communications. She oversees and writes for the Proverb 31 devotions, Encouragement for Today, and manages the content for the She Speaks Conference for writers and speakers and COMPEL Training for writers. She is the author or coauthor of nine other books. She has a degree in journalism and public relations from Arizona State University. She and her husband live in Glendale. They have five young adult children. She blogs regularly at www.GlynnisWhitwer.com.

Revell, 192 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.