Be Still: 30 Devotions for the Hopeful Heartনমুনা

Change of Pace

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” LUKE 12:27–28 ESV

Our body naturally responds to and is strengthened by resistance. In our physical journey, we have to change our routine if we want our muscles to be challenged by our exercise regimen. Our spiritual walk is the same way. Life suggests the “do more, be more” approach, offering very little time to be still. This yields the same rushed rhythm we have grown accustomed to; we are always going and coming, both mentally and physically.

But what if we literally forced our bodies to slow down? No explanation is given to the outside world other than that of self-awareness and spiritual care if any explanation is even offered. We know resistance will be present, but that means we are experiencing growth.

Would our body respond? This welcomed form of solitude and intentional decision to slow our roll would invite Jesus to take over. Much like when we change up our exercise routine, going against the grain will not come easy. In the moments when the lies start to fill our heads, labeling our stillness as laziness, we can invite Jesus to remind us of our new pace. As we force ourselves to stay in one place instead of hopping from here to there, we will experience the freedom to just be with Jesus and experience His kindness.

Jesus never intended His children to travel at breakneck speed and still maintain a mind of peace. He knows that if we can accept the change of pace, we will be shocked at how much our understanding of our purpose follows. The rush-around no longer will cause a rush inside us; it will remind us that our heavenly Father’s pace is perfect.

Jesus, thank You for the ability to slow down and be still in You. While You provided us with bodies to soar to great heights, You created us to have boundaries that, when crossed, make us weak. Settle our minds when we feel the pressure to speed up, and remind us that You are transforming us. In Jesus’s name, amen.