Things AboveSample

HOW TO ENJOY GOD WHEN LIFE IS BUSY

Busyness has become a major marker of our generation. We are flat out, at capacity and often on the edge of burnout. However, there is a misconception that busyness equals productivity, importance and meaning. Our lives have therefore become a competition about who is busier. But in reality, busyness is simply noise that is taking away from our most important relationship. 

The greatest commandment is to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ You were created to be in a loving relationship with God and your heart craves intimacy with him. The Bible is full of wisdom on what this looks like – we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus, seek first the kingdom of God, have no other gods before him, and to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.

Pursing a relationship with God does not require us to try harder or to do more. Jesus has already reconciled us to the Father, so we are simply called to be still, and to sit at his feet and listen.

So why are we so busy? Busyness springs up when we have lost patience, and perspective of God’s sovereignty. Busyness says that our plans are better and our strength is greater, so we no longer need to trust God.   

Being busy is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can quickly become a barrier to our relationship with God when we make ourselves the victims of our busy circumstances or when using it as an excuse to not spend time in His presence. But busyness is a choice. When we fill all our days with work, social, sporting, volunteering, and even church commitments, we are choosing to put these things before spending time with God. We are choosing to trust in our strength and our plans, and not God’s.  

Your relationship with God is the most important relationship you will ever have. You will never regret making time to spend with our Father. So have a read over these scriptures today and recalibrate your relationship to the Father. Allow his promises to bring peace to your busy soul. And slow down, breathe, and rest in the presence of your Father, who has your life under control. And don’t forget that this devotional is designed to be paired with the podcast series ‘things above’ of the Generation Podcast. So have a listen to episode 2 of the podcast for a deeper discussion on how to enjoy God when life is busy.