You live among people who glorify busyness; they have made time a tyrant that controls their lives. Even those who know Me as Savior tend to march to the tempo of the world. They have bought into the illusion that more is always better: more meetings, more programs, more activity.
I have called you to follow Me on a solitary path, making time alone with Me your highest priority and deepest Joy. It is a pathway largely unappreciated and often despised. However, you have chosen the better thing that will never be taken away from you. Sarah Young, Jesus Calling
As we live in the tension of too much and not enough, may you find the sweet spot on the teeter totter of balance that looks right for you. Know that what seems like your slow and steady process, can feel like a sprint for a friend; that God is confident in the layout and design of you. Let go of more in exchange for enough, and rest. He’s got this and so do you.
Happy Sabbath Friends!
Some link love for your weekend on how the tension between busyness and rest affects identity:
The Other Side of Silence by Kelli Woodford Because facing silence tastes an awful lot like facing fear, and only when I’m really honest can I admit that what sends me shaking in my boots to check email or flip on the radio is the dread of being alone.
When It’s Time for Some Shinrin-yoku by Michelle DeRusha The Japanese have a word for this — shinrin-yoku. Forest bathing. They’ve known for a long time what researchers are only beginning to prove now: that spending time in the woods is good for us.
Goodbye Internet by Glennon Melton at Momastery Glennon is taking a 40 day internet sabbatical and this post makes me think, about a lot.
The Myth of Multi-Tasking by Jeff Goins Jeff hosted a week long challenge on slowing down. This one spoke to me most since I’ve crowned myself the queen of distraction.
What We Really Need in This Life by Duane Scott Sometimes I think we, as God’s children, are so busy trying to unlock the secrets to this life that we fail to remember to live it.
Want to make Sabbath a weekly rhythm and not just something you fit in to the cracks between busyness? Join the Sabbath Society, it all started here.
And enough in Christ is *everything* isn’t it,Shelly? I have always loved that verse in Isaiah, and it’s so fascinating that rest is associated with our salvation. When we rest in Christ we are really letting go of everything else and putting our faith and confidence in Him alone. And again, He is everything. Thank you for sharing the links. I loved Kelli and Michelle’s recent blogs, and will look forward to reading the others. Blessed, rest-full Sabbath dear one.
Love
Lynn
What a wonderful reminder here, Shelly, to rest (totally and completely) in Him. I do live a very slow-paced life, and have always found it difficult to understand the people in my life who feel they must be go, go, go, in order to feel significant in this world. They certainly equate busyness with their supposed “worth”. Truly, if you don’t answer “Busy!” to the question of “How are you?”, people really don’t want to hear much about you. I once heard it said that busyness, and distraction, are two of satan’s greatest weapons against the Church. I think that’s very true.
This was beautifully-written, Shelly. Thank you.
I’ve been thinking about the word “return” all year. Incredibly, it only occurred to me today reading your words that the Sabbath is a weekly return. I’m so grateful to have a weekly call to return to God, to rest in Him, with Him.