Hurriedness.
The concept of rushing and resting have crossed my path repeatedly for a week now. It’s what happens when one reads two books at the same time.
The struggle with balancing several plates at the same time and hurrying from one thing to another seems to plague many. In the book, The Good and Beautiful God, the author labels it “hurry sickness.” He correctly addresses the fact that this is an inner attitude we bring upon ourselves. In our constant state of hurrying, we are robbing ourselves of being present in the current moment.
And in missing the present moment, we miss what God has for us in this moment.
Have you ever noticed that God does not seem to be in a hurry? He created time. He is sovereign over time. He takes His time.
And Jesus? He also slowed down His activity in order to spend time alone with His Father. He knew it was critical to listen to what God was speaking to Him. As we slow down, we gain wisdom as we hear the Spirit’s soft whisper.
Here is where the two books collide. In her book, Rhythms of Rest, Shelly Miller writes:
“Sabbath is an invitation for intimate conversation. It is an intentional quieting, transforming information into tangible experience, into words and sentences that harness our purpose and calling.”
Growth, especially spiritual growth, takes time. Change is slow but it comes and it does take place in our lives. It comes over steadily and faithfully slowing down and spending time with God – in His Word and in prayer.
Let’s slow down and ask the Lord to heal us of our “hurry sickness”.
In “Good and Beautiful God”, the author makes note of several practical ways we can practice slowing down. I think the easiest, and the hardest, suggestion in the list was to intentionally get in the slowest lane driving, and the longest line at the checkout in a store. This one is sure to be a “test” for me and reveal how progressed the disease of hurry has become in my life. A stop at the post office should do it for me later today 
.
What will you do to practice slowing down today (and moving forward)?
I loved this quote the author shares:
“It seems that most believers have difficulty in realizing and facing up to the inexorable fact that God does not hurry in His development of our Christian life. He is working from and for eternity!” (Miles J. Stanford).
Should you need proof of this, Paul tells us,
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6, NLT)
May we all have a beautiful and “slow” day in Jesus!
Today I am joining … Testimony Tuesday and #RaRaLinkup and Unite .
I think I shall talk a walk this chilly morning before the day gets busy.
Isn’t it amazing how we slow down in varied ways? I love how a walk brings me peace.
Oh — “hurry sickness.”
I know its symptoms well, and am trusting for grace to slow down and relish the beauty all around me in the season.
Michele, it is so true. We need grace to slow down. I was driving yesterday in the early morning and noticed the leaves had turned and wondered “when”. And then I was just so grateful to have noticed and not missed out on the glorious display He spread for me.
Love this idea of hurry sickness and how we can heal it with rest, physical and spiritual. I have suffered tremendously from hurry sickness over the years, and am learning to spend more time with Jesus and cut a lot of the other stuff out. Good thoughts you have shared Joanne! 🙂 Blessings to you, may you find rest in Him today!
Nicki, that is so it – we learn to rest in Him. Rest is a deliberate choice we make over other options. Grateful to have connected with you today!
This was a wonderful piece. All of our technology and the lightning speed social media convos has made many of us very impatient. In some ways warped our sense of time and patience. I live more in the “to be done” than in the “doing” part of life and I am fully aware of it and want to change it. I have to check out those two books you recommended!
Megan, both books are truly wonderful. They were timed perfectly for my life 🙂 May we both slow down enough to hear His and so “do” only what He would have us to do. Blessings!
I’m slowing down by saying, “no.” It isn’t easy for me, but God has been reminding me too that I can’t hear Him when I’m listening to everyone else first. So, I say no – to another thing to do or another place to go, to another scroll through social media, to more empty busyness. Instead I choose extra time with Him and those He’s given me. Such a good reminder today, Joanne – thank you!
Tiffany, you so confirmed what I responded to Megan (just above). Only in slowing down will we be able to hear His voice and “do” what He has called us to do. I so appreciate that you shared!
Joanne…your words spoke volumes to me today….thank you.
My copy of Shelly’s book arrived today..it will be so helpful also.
I think what you have exptessed here about tge constant trying to balance out the urgent with REST is something many struggle with.
Just today I prayed asking God what His will for my new season of life was.
He sent me an answer through someone’s words…not to despise the small things.
I lunched with a prayer partner who received the same answer to the same question and your words in this post have reconfirmed what we both heard.
Thank yoy for being the oracle of God to us today.
Mary, and you just confirmed something for me. I love that God works that way. Blessings, my friend!
“God does not hurry”…why then do we? Because we do not “work from eternity and for eternity”. Maybe that would help. Otherwise “hurry sickness” eats us up. Thanks, Joanne, for this post. I love it! God bless you!
I loved that quote when I read it too. May we take time today to be slow. Blessings!
We get so easily caught up in the pace of the world that we begin to walk in step with it… but as believers, we are not of this world so to march in cadence with it is out of step with the music of our Savior. He is our rest and we must pursue it as we pursue Him. If we cannot slow down, we cannot hear Him and do what he calls us to do. My post this week is similar… about over-commitment. take a look …. if you have time.. 😛
http://www.switchbacks.org/2016/10/12/overcommitment/
Blessings!
Karen, it is so true. A good question to perhaps ask ourselves is, “Who are we keeping step with?” or maybe even, “Who are we allowing to set our pace?” Definitely going to stop over to read your post. Blessings!