I confess hurry has been a huge undercurrent in my life. While I’m not sure where it started, I am sure of one thing: along the way, I became addicted to the adrenaline rush of hurry. Unfortunately, that’s dangerous for my body, soul, and relationships. Sigh… In light of that, over the past 10 years, I’ve been seeking to let go of the constant feeling of being rushed. I’m not going to lie. It’s not been easy, and I am not there yet. However, what I have noticed is that when I’m intentional about slowing down, being fully present, and relaxing my body, I enjoy life and people a whole lot more. Can you relate?
As I have read through the gospels, I’ve noticed Jesus was never in a hurry. It’s remarkable! I can’t think of even one time where Jesus rushed! I can think of plenty of times when He moved slowly at times making others wait (the story of Jairus in Luke 8:40-56, the raising of Lazarus in John 11, and many others).
Busyness and hurry have become a vicious cycle in our culture. We feel lonely. But rather than viewing our loneliness as a signal to slow down and savor our relationships, we anesthetize our pain by running harder and faster. However, in the end, that will not heal our ache for deeper connection, it will hinder our connection with God and others. So, how do we let go of our sense of hurry?
3 Ways to Let Go of Hurry
Set aside an hour each day to savor a close relationship. Scripture teaches us to “be devoted to one another” (Romans 12:10). We can’t really be devoted to others if we’re always in a rush. Slow down and take time to savor. Maybe that means calling a relative, having dinner with your spouse, or praying with a friend. Perhaps if you have young kids in the home, you set aside an hour to simply play with your children or to read to them. Learn to treasure your moments with those you love. When you do that, your connections will go deeper.
Practice the presence of God throughout your day. When I feel the urge to hurry rising up in me, I pause and pray, “Thank you, Lord, that your Spirit dwells in me. I relax in You.” It’s amazing how that calms down the urge to hurry. Jesus invited us to find rest in His yoke because His burden was easy and His yoke light (Matthew 11:28).
Be still in God’s presence. The Psalmist reminds us to “Be still and know… God” (Psalm 46:10). That word, “know,” doesn’t just mean head knowledge about God. It implies an intimate knowing. The only way that’s possible is when you learn to enjoy prayer and being with God. Learning to settle into God’s presence can take practice. We’re so used to fast information hitting our minds with instant gratification that we’ve lost our ability to focus in prayer.
I read recently about George Whitfield, who was the English preacher who led the eighteenth-century revival in America. He spent hours on his knees and days and weeks literally lying prostrate before the Lord.
Our prayer lives have, too often, become hurried. I don’t want to dump guilt on you. I get it. You have to get breakfast for your kids or scramble to get to the office on time. But what if you became intentional for the next month to add ten minutes a day to your prayer time simply to enjoy God and His love? I believe the more pressure we are under, the more time we need in God’s presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to help quiet your thoughts so that you can simply enjoy Jesus.
Friend, let’s try to eliminate hurry this week. Let’s try to savor our relationships, pause and remind ourselves of God’s presence, and finally, let’s try to add a bit of time to our prayer lives. I believe God is longing to spend time with you, so don’t rush past Him.
Pick up a copy of Becky’s latest book Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World here.
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