Hustle
What is hurry? How can we be less in a hurry? Most of us feel like we have to hurry because we have too much to do or we try to fit in too much without leaving room for life. What if we chose not to live in this place? What if every day we commit to try to live without a day that is packed full of “to do’s.” For me I would struggle with the quiet. I would not know what to do as there is so much that needs to get done…but does there have to be? I’m not sure, but I have to believe when I look at scripture that God does not want us to be in a hurry. He does not say “be in a hurry and know that I am God.” Rather he says, “be still and know that I am God.” He does not say if you just work harder things will be better. He says in Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Let’s look in Luke 10 at Mary and Martha. Martha was busy cooking, cleaning and preparing while Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha asks Jesus aren’t you going to have Mary help me and Jesus replies, “Martha, Martha; you are worried and upset about many things; but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and I will not take that away from her.” Say what!! Jesus tells us “few things are needed” and that Mary sitting and being still listening to Jesus is better than Martha getting things done. That hits me hard! God longs for time with us. He encourages us to be still and abide with him. In fact, it is something that is always in the back of my head nowadays. It’s like a prompting saying “Sara, slow down and come spend time with me.” While there are times I will try to push through and ignore this prompting, I’ve learned that if I listen and surrender, I am much more joyful throughout my day.
I wonder if anyone else out there is being intentional about trying to slow down. In the times of COVID and quarantine we were in a way forced to physically slow down. Why does it not feel more restful? For me, the answer is that mentally, life is more fast paced for me than it has ever been. Social media is filled with more controversy than ever and it seems if you even turn on the news I am left with a pit of anxiety in my stomach. Isaiah 55:2, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” So rather than fill our minds with things of the world all day, we need to pause, put down our devices, open our Bibles, pray and listen.
Let’s not throw away our lives through the hustle. Pause with me today, take a breath and let’s ask God to show us where we need to slow down.
Dear God, I pray that you speak to each one of us today. Help us to see the areas of our life that we need to give to you. Lord I search our hearts as we are still in your presence. We ask you to bring us peace, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.