The Urgency of Slowing Downნიმუში

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. —Ephesians 4:1

I’m a runner.

Actually, I was a runner until my left knee got mad at me a few years ago. Buckling during a run, refusing to jog another step. I finally went to see an orthopedic doctor, took a long break from running, went through physical therapy, and slowly eased myself back into it.

I learned through trial and error that I can run if I take every other day off. Now I’m a runner and a walker. It took an injury to teach me to slow my pace. I run a day and then walk a day, back and forth, fast then slow. I can’t run two days in a row without consequences.

The same holds true for our lives: we can’t run constantly without paying the price. You and I were created to do and make things for God’s kingdom. I get excited about that. I want to get out there and do the things, meet the people, live out the calling God has put on my life.

But some days we need to walk because we were also created to pause and rest. When we shortcut taking breaks in our schedules, when we ignore stillness, we get edgy and grumpy and exhausted. We feel the stress boiling up in us like a pot of pasta left on high too long. If we don’t turn down the burner, we’re going to boil over and make a mess of things.

Our culture calls us to run every day in our work, relationships, and commitments without resting. The world encourages us to work a side hustle, be more productive, and achieve higher goals. And, yes, there is great work to be done. No question.

Still, Jesus frequently took time to get away from the crowds, from the busyness of His preaching, healings, and miracles (all excellent things), and He invites us to do the same. Are you weary? Are you burdened by anything?

Jesus offers rest.

These cadences are so important—the slow and the go, back and forth, rest and work, sleep and wake, move and be still.

I look forward to my running days now more than ever because I have a new appreciation for how precious they are. But I’ve also come to look forward to the non-running days.

We get to choose—to stay in the fast lane and try to do all the things on our own; to risk burnout or heartburn or burned-up resources or relationships; or to release the achievements, goals, and speed in which we get it all done to Jesus, and to walk in His unforced rhythms of grace.

Which will you choose? The fast lane or Jesus’ easy yoke?

Reflection:

In what areas of your life do you feel like you’re running too fast?

How does this idea of slowing down make you feel?

What’s currently keeping you from slowing down your pace?

*This devotion is taken from Laura L. Smith’s book The Urgency of Slowing Down: Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Renewal.