.png)
Slow down, be patient, take your time.
These are all phrases we have heard and know and want to practice but often don’t do any of it. We are constantly busy with something.
Quote by Glynnis Whitwer – “Sometimes dealing with hurry is as simple as deciding to slow down. Walk more slowly … talk more slowly. Sometimes it means editing our schedules and removing half (if not more) of our optional responsibilities.”
Let’s talk about taking time to slow our hurry.
We were watching Zootopia as a family the other night, and there is this one part where the rabbit and fox go to the DMV, where sloths run the DMV and they move super slowly. Judy, the rabbit, gives the sloth at the desk a number to look up. The sloth starts to type in the number very slowly, but Judy keeps repeating the number quickly, thinking that if she keeps repeating it, the sloth will go faster and she can get the information she needs.
As I was watching this, I thought about how we need to slow down and not be in such a rush all the time. We need to learn to be patient.
Hebrews 10:36 says, "Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."
We need to have patient endurance so that we can learn how to slow down, listen, and obey the Lord.
We were designed to go at a slower pace, to ponder, to process thoughts one at a time, and to focus on the face in front of us with tender care. When we try to go at computer-speed, we miss out on what’s important in life. We live in an instant world, but we don’t need everything instantly. We need to take time and take it all in so we don't miss what God has for us.
Hurry isn’t a mandate. There are other options, especially those that make us nicer, as hurry sometimes doesn’t bring out our best. We can become so caught up in what we are doing and what we need to get done that other things become a complete inconvenience. We’ve decided that our thing is more important than anything else and it must get done no matter what.
Romans 15:5 says, "May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus."
We can uncover the root of our hurry, but it takes time. To start, the next time you feel hurried and start to push the gas pedal, pause and breathe deeply. Refuse to be rushed. Declare that hurry has no place in the good work you’re doing, or the beautiful life God’s placed before you.
Maybe that opportunity just might be exactly what God has for you and the people you are with are the ones you are to share part of your story with. Don't miss the opportunity God has for you.
Yesterday, I was in line at the store, and there was a guy in front of me who was taking his time. He needed to take his time. Afterward, he apologized to me for going slow and taking up my time. I think he was feeling that check out line rush. But I assured him that he was fine and I was in no rush at all.
Over the years, I have learned there is no need to be in such a hurry that it frustrates me and makes others feel rushed. Doing less is sometimes more.
We are to love one another, and one way to do that is to be patient.
Colossians 3:12 says, "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
God, in His character, is patient and takes His time. We need to learn from that.