We are always in a rush: to work; to school; to home; to a meeting. We quickly do this and try fit this in. We rush to do groceries, rush to fetch kids, rush to finish a project by a deadline. Being in a rush is a characteristic of modern life. For all our convenience and instant technologies, it has not added to our quality of life, it has merely increased the speed of life.
How often have you said: “How time flies!” when you see an old friend. You look at how their children have grown and realized years have passed. When last did you and your spouse spend a whole afternoon on the couch just quietly talking about your lives. When last did you do something you really enjoy, or do that little home project that you have been dying to do? Where is the time for ourselves, for friends, to really connect deeply with anyone, to just talk and enjoy being home? We are in such a hurry, that we don’t fully enter into where we are now, or what is in front of us, but hurry off to do the next thing.
There is no time to be quiet, to reflect, to be silent. No quiet meals and discussions over a dinner table. No lying on a blanket in the garden. Our rush, eats away at our enjoyment of life, it eats away at our hearts.
Busyness kills the heart.
As a result, when we go away, it feels like heaven. It is a break from rushing and all those things we long to do, become part of our lives. We connect, we laugh, we sing, we lie on a blanket. It feels like heaven, because slowing down to rest is like experiencing some of heaven. We are not designed to rush around like mad things: “oh, I’m going to be late. Quick. Quicker.” Like a Mad Hatter. God designed for us rest.
It reminds me of Isaiah 30:15 “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”
We know what is good for us, but we prefer to rush. We like to be tired.
Matt 11:28 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
The God who holds time in His hand, wants me to experience rest. He wants me to experience life. He holds and controls time, in His plan, there is time for everything. Enough time for everything. We are not to miss the life He has got for us by being in a hurry.
We can slow down. Slow down, relax, enjoy.
Don’t be so focused on making every minute count, that you miss the moment.
If we slow down, we can pay attention to the moments. Pay attention to the people around us. Pay attention to where we are, what moment, what situation, what potential there is to experiencing life before us now. If we slow down and pay attention, we may just pick up what God is doing right now, what He is saying to us, what He needs us to know.
Psalm 46:10 “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”
If we slow down, we may encounter God in our moments. If we slow down we will experience the abundance of life He has planned.
Make yourself a poster that says: SLOW DOWN and place it somewhere you can see it often during the day. Why? Because we forget to slow down: we live in a world that is always rushing.
Father, thank you that You designed rest for me. Thank you that life is not supposed to be so busy, that You know what our lives are like and what really needs to be done. I praise You because You control time. Help me to not get caught up in the habit of the world, by always rushing and being busy. Help me to just start to practice slowing down, so that I can pay attention to what is going on around me and not rush ahead to what is next. Help me to pay attention and embrace the life You have planned for me.
JUST what I needed to read! Thank you!