By Kelly Carr

I was never so happy not to have cell phone service.

Not getting service for my smart phone is usually annoying. I feel at a disadvantage if I can’t immediately look up directions or search for information. Yes, I know it’s a modern, first-world problem. I use my smart phone for a number of helpful tools. However, it is also distracting when I gaze at the screen out of habit rather than out of need.

That’s why it felt freeing when my family was on vacation and we had no cell service. While visiting a new city, we relied on old-fashioned maps rather than Google at the subway station. At famous sites, we didn’t linger on their websites; we lingered at the view. When we went out to dinner with friends, we looked them in the eye rather than looking at their social media status. The biggest thing was that we didn’t check work email—now that was a true break!

I was less stressed by putting aside my tasks for a while. I was more engaged with my loved ones and my surroundings on vacation. I was refreshed from the rest.

With all of these positive outcomes, it’s no wonder God incorporated times of rest into the development of his people. He demonstrated rest on the seventh day of creation and made taking a break a top-10 commandment.

Summertime is a popular season for people to take breaks. But no matter the time of year, I hope you make big and small periods of rest a priority to find yourself renewed in the Lord.