When did life become so busy? I can’t tell you how many times have I asked friends how they are doing, and their response to me is “busy!” I know I have echoed that same sentiment too many times! When did “busy” become an answer to how we are doing? Not “I am fine,” or “doing well,” our lives are filled with busy. Busy has become the new good!
We run from thing to thing to thing, without leaving much room in our lives for margin or borders. Dance lessons, soccer practice, art class—our children are growing up in a world that demands busyness.
[ctt template=”2″ link=”8xnku” via=”yes” ]Better, faster, more. But is that really better?[/ctt]
Why do we over-schedule our lives so much? Are we afraid that we might miss out on something? Are we meant to live a life of exhaustion and burnout? I don’t think so. I love Jesus’ instructions to us in Matthew 11:28-30.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
We need quiet time in our life to give our burdens to the Lord, so that we may find rest for our souls. I think “busyness” is a ploy from the enemy of our souls to leave us disconnected and exhausted.
[ctt template=”2″ link=”beMYj” via=”yes” ]How can we experience true community if we are running ourselves ragged?[/ctt]
We need borders and margins in our life so that we are available to move and go as the Holy Spirit guides and directs us. When we are so busy, we don’t have time to minister to the needs of others.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31
How can we love our neighbors when we don’t even have time in our schedules to know our neighbors? If the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and strength, and loving our neighbors comes in at a close second.
Then why don’t we focus more time and energy loving others?
We were created for rest. There is a cycle, a rhythm of work and rest. Even the God of the universe that spoke the world into existence rested. The Omnipotent God that is beyond the fabric of time and space created and worked for six days, and then on the seventh day, rested.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. -Genesis 2:1-3 ESV
God rested and so should we! This is something that is very hard for me as a person with type-A driven personality, and if I am not careful, I can work myself into a frenzy. Lately, God is showing me a gentle and easy way. As I make my time with Him a priority, getting lost in His presence I become more like him. God is showing me that I have to let go of some good things in life in order to do the best things.
I challenge you to take time this week to evaluate how you spend your time. Do you have ample time to spend with God—to pray, to read and study the word? Do you have time in your schedule to rest? Would you be available to take a meal to someone or find time to pray for others? Are there good things in your schedule that you need to let go?
Praying that the God of all wisdom would guide and direct your steps this week! Let me know if I can pray for you. if you are overscheduled and need to find some margin in your life I pray that you would be bold enough to let go of anything that keeps you from God’s best for your life.
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