You know how we get asked all the time, How are you doing? Lately, my answer has been the same: Busy. Not necessarily a bad busy—most of the time, it's a good busy. But I’m tired of that being my automatic response. When did busy become the defining state of my life?
I want to be productive. I want to be fruitful. But I also want to slow down.
When Do We Turn Off the Busy?
As an entrepreneur, the lines between work and home blur easily. My work hours are flexible, but that also means they can stretch into every part of my life. When do I shut it down? When do I step away? When do I choose not to be busy?
I keep thinking about The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, where he talks about how one of the biggest barriers to deep relationship with God is always being in a hurry. That truth stings a little.
I also saw a reel recently that really stuck with me: If saying yes to something causes me to rush to get there, then the answer is no. How often do we say yes to things simply because we can make it work, even if it means stressing ourselves out in the process?
Reevaluating How I Spend My Time
Maybe I’m equating busy with work, but I’m also busy at home. And I think that’s because I allow work to seep into my home life. Working from home means there’s no walk out the door moment. There’s no clear line between work and rest.
I don’t want to always be busy. I don’t want to live in a constant state of rushing from one thing to the next. I want to be intentional. Present. Unhurried.
So, here’s my prayer right now:
Lord, slow me down.
When you see me rushing through life frazzled and hurried, Lord, slow me down.
When I’m more focused on meticulously filling my calendar than filling myself with you, Lord, slow me down.
When my mind is running non-stop and crowding out your voice, Lord, slow me down.
When I’m more worried about what we’ll feed ourselves for dinner this week than I am with feeding my soul, Lord, slow me down.
When I unexpectedly run into someone I know and try to keep the conversation as brief as possible, Lord, slow me down.
When daily time in your Word becomes just another item to check off my to-do list, Lord, slow me down.
When I scramble to please and impress everyone instead of living for an audience of one, Lord slow me down.
When I’m so busy communicating via email and text and Facebook that I don’t make time for meaningful conversation with the people I love, Lord, slow me down.
When my days are so consumed with managing my stuff that I forget to thank you for those gifts, Lord, slow me down.
When my thin patience affects the people closest to me, Lord, slow me down.
When I’m spending my time on good things but still totally missing the point of what matters, Lord, slow me down.
Slow me down, Lord, and bring me peace from the frenzy before this earthly life runs away with the precious moments and days I can never get back. Amen.
What about you? Are you always busy? Do you feel like you have a choice to slow down?
