God is the opposite of hurry and worry. He wants us to bear fruit, and if we are constantly hustling and rushing around trying to get everything done, nothing of worth will be produced because there has been no time and care put into our activities. They are fruitless. I feel like God is always telling us to slow down.
Be still and know that I am God. ~Psalm 46:10
There is a hustling in my mind that is out of sync with my heart, with God’s spirit in me. There is something that tells me I must do everything and experience everything and I must do it right now or it will be too late. Seize the day!
Yet as I am thinking about what I should be doing, I am not enjoying what I am doing right now. My mind is always five steps ahead of me while my heart remains behind. I can never catch up, and I’m tired. My soul is tired. I need rest. I need to stop trying to figure it all out. There is a plan.
The mind of the man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. ~Proverbs 16:9
While I am so busy trying to figure out my next steps, my life is happening. The world keeps going and I’m missing out because I’m not present. I let my mind run away and take me with it, and everyone is worse for it.
I am needed here, now. All we have is the present, and we get to choose how we use it- are we going to be engaged with the world around us in a meaningful and connected way, or continue to detach and numb ourselves with the drugs of hurry and worry?
I choose to be here and now, no matter how imperfect and unfinished and messy it is. God meets us where we are and carries us forward- it is not in our own strength and will.
Let go of your to-do list, just for a moment, and trust that the Lord of the universe loves you infinitely and will take care of your every need.
rhythms of grace 