I know I can’t be the only one out there who’s noticed this trend of worshiping the state of busyness. Am I right?
Rest is shunned in trade for break neck hustle 24/7. Often I’ve been guilty too so no judgement here! Just noticing and calling out this idol I keep seeing played out.
Way to often we feel rest is for the weak. Guess what, nothing is further from the truth. For many of us it takes discipline and great strength to honor our Creator’s design to rest.
Maybe I’m the only one who still has to die to the idol of striving but looking around and listening even just a little bit leads me to believe I’m not.
We race about, sometimes spinning our wheels, not even accomplishing what we’re really aiming for in the pursuit of being busy! How many times have you answered someone’s question “How are you?” with “Oh, busy!”
The Holy Spirit’s convicted of me this SO much the last several months. Now I’m doing my best to answer with how I’m truly doing right then. Not just busy! We’re all busy. Maybe if we started responding with “well rested” we’d shake things up for a change!!
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
We’re created to function at our best when we learn to rest. I don’t mean veg out scrolling social media either. I mean resting our soul, spirit and body!! Time to pull back, unplug and recharge.
What does that look like for you friend? For me it means honoring a time to shut down in the evening. Put the phone and computer away. Sit with my hubby and wind down. Go to bed at a decent time so I can be refueled for the plans the Lord has for me the next day.
We can make all the plans and hustle our booties off but if we do it without letting the Holy Spirit lead us we’re doing it in vain anyway!!
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:1-2 (ESV)
I don’t know about you but I refuse to trade His plans for me for the worship of busyness! Even if it means laying that idol down daily!!
Please hear my heart on this. There is no condemnation in Christ. There is conviction and if you’re anything like me I’m so grateful for that!!
Lord, help us to lay down this worship of busyness. Help direct our steps and guide us in the plans you have for us. We don’t want to labor in vain Jesus. We give our days to You and thank You for the rest you give us in You. Lead us down the paths of productive work without striving. Help us to honor You with our time and our rest. We praise You for the way You created us. May we glorify you in all that we do, including rest! In Jesus name, amen.
Finding rest has always been difficult for me both physically and spiritually. Last year I heard someone say that not resting is actually a theological issue because we demonstrate our trust in God’s ability to meet our needs and care for all the details without our help every time we intentionally step back and rest. That has helped me so much as I too battle daily not to feel guilty over resting…
Such a great point on not trusting God to meet our needs when we refuse to rest. So glad we’re talking about this!
I completely agree that we worship a state of busyness! I have heard the phrase “I’ll sleep when I die” from numerous friends and associates and it’s so depressing that we think this way. We need to realize that busy doesn’t necessarily equal productive, and that resting is productive as well. I really enjoyed your post.
Yep I couldn’t agree more on busy doesn’t necessarily equal productive! So glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks.
This is really good. I think alot of times we don’t realize that busyness (or other things that distract us from the Lord) is considered an idol. But you are so right! Such a good post! Thank you so much! ❤
Yeah I’ll be the first to admit it’s been an idol in my life in the past. Also as way to earn people’s approval. So grateful God is patient and keeps drawing me out into the deeper water. So glad you enjoyed the post!