Have you met people who wear their busy lives as badges of honor? God has given us different capacities and callings, so I can’t judge someone else’s schedule, but I do know something about assigning a misplaced sense of value and worth to busyness which in my life produced a sense of hurry.

Growing up, I subconsciously took to heart the phrase, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” As an adult, I heard, BUSY stands for—”Burdened Under Satan’s Yoke” and “If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.”

All these sayings contain some truth—depending on how we apply them. But busyness has robbed me of more than stillness. And the misplaced value I assigned to busyness has sabotaged times of stillness with a nagging sense that I should be doing something.

When Larry and I were raising our children, I too often let other people’s needs and demands determine our family’s schedule. The fear of missing out, disappointing someone, not doing my share, or depriving our kids goaded me whenever I tried to cut back. Busyness felt productive, but I didn’t want my children to associate their mom with “Hurry up”—a phrase I said far too often.

My desire to be responsible pushed me into an out-of-balance life. One day my husband said, “When you’re overcommitted, we all suffer.” I’d asked his thoughts on a new ministry opportunity, but his words stung—because I knew he was right.

Faith Doesn’t Rush

In my quest for healthy balance, God highlighted some scriptures for me. For example, did you know that those who believe in Jesus won’t be in a hurry?

“Therefore thus says the Lord God,
‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,
A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.
He who believes in it will not be disturbed’” (Is. 28:16 NASB).

“Disturbed” literally means “in a hurry.” Those who believe in God’s cornerstone—Jesus—won’t be rushing around!

The Examples of Jesus and Paul

The Gospels challenged my view of productivity. I never saw Jesus rushing during His three-year ministry. He stunned me by saying “no” to great ministry opportunities. He walked away from eager crowds to keep step with His Father (Mark 1:35-38). He applauded Mary, who sat at His feet listening to Him, while her sister Martha complained that Mary wasn’t doing enough.

“But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41–42 NLT).

Jesus didn’t chide Martha for being busy, but for her harried distraction. After Jesus raised their brother Lazarus from the dead, we find Mary still sitting at Jesus’ feet—and Martha still busy in the kitchen. But this time, Martha is humming—or at least she’s content.

Perhaps the problem lies not in busyness or idleness, but in a distracted heart that makes us restless. Life has rhythms. People have different capacities. But we all need to practice staying in tune with our Lord so that we don’t lose the ability to enjoy Him, the important people in our lives, and life itself.

Signs of Putting a Misplaced Value on BusynessFeeling guilty when we’re not productiveAttaching our sense of self-worth to how much we accomplishJudging others by how busy they are compared to ourselvesImpatience with others we think slow us downBeing in a hurry

If we’re used to lots of activity and have to slow our pace, we may feel like we’ve been put on a shelf. Not true. God values our fellowship, just as He did Mary’s. He delights in the pleasure of our company.

Remember Isaiah’s words?

The one who believes in Jesus will not be disturbed or rushed.

Isn’t that the life we all long for? To fully engage in the work God has called us to—without rushing or comparing ourselves or others to our own unrealistic standards. To appreciate those with different inclinations and gifts. To enjoy our Lord, our loved ones, and even ourselves.

Learning to rest in Jesus is a process. And our Lord wants to help today’s Marthas find peace—just as He did the Martha of His day.

Resources

Give Yourself a Break: Discover the Secret to God’s Rest

Faith doesn’t rush. What if busyness isn’t a badge of honor? #SpiritualRest #MaryAndMartha
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Blessings,

Sometimes I link to these great sites:

#MondayLinkUp #InstaEncouragements, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Grace&Truth

The post God Isn’t in a Hurry—Why Are We? appeared first on Debbie W. Wilson.