Unhurried

“Hurry keeps your heart earthbound.” (Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, pg. 276)

When I read this quote this morning, I was suddenly taken back to my own words spoken to a small group of women in my living room last Thursday afternoon...

“What are some things we can do to keep a Christ-centered and eternal perspective, instead of having our minds focused on earthly things?” (Philippians 3:19-20) 

None of us came up with hurrying as a distraction from a life focused on God. In fact, in the year and a month since we’ve lived here in Cameroon, the topic of trying to rush through time and days has never come up in conversation with any of the resident’s wives or local people. It is just not an issue here. Hurrying from one thing to another, and living stressed over trying to cram too much into too short of time, doesn’t often exist in this culture where time is viewed so differently than in the West. 

I’ve learned a lot since living in Africa about slowing down, breathing more deeply, and soaking in the moments. Yet I’m starting to feel the stress and pressure of ‘too little time and too much to do’ as my mind turns to the current and coming transitions. Even last night, as I felt our littlest baby kicking and turning inside of me, I said to Jason...

“How can it only be 3 months from now?”

“What do you mean?”, he asked. (Sometimes I forget that he can’t read my mind)

“How is it possible that in only 3 months from now we will have lived through 6 more weeks in Cameroon, packed up and said goodbye to our life here, flown back to the US, been in 2 weddings, bought a car, found a place to live, bought and moved our stuff to a new city, celebrated holidays with family, and will have a new baby? Can all of that really happen in only 3 months?! Oh yes, and then you will start pediatric surgery fellowship...” 

“Wow, we are a bit crazy.”, was my husband’s reply. 

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My parents just returned to the States after an almost 2 week visit here. What a gift and blessing our time together was! It was so wonderful to have them here - to spend time talking and laughing, to watch them play with the boys, and to introduce them to some of the people and places that hold our hearts. Thank you SO much to all who gave financially, encouraged them along the way, and prayed fervently for them through all the planning and travels!! We are SO grateful to the Lord (and you!) for the privilege of having them here! Now I’m hoping that we didn’t wear them out too much...  

After they left though, my mind began turning to the ‘next thing’ – a visit from one of my best friends, and then our return to the US all together. As the remaining time here suddenly seems so short, I again feel the pressure to try and cram everything in that I want to do before we leave. I want to make a mile long ‘to do’ list and plan everything to the last detail. Yet I was stopped the other day by another quote in ‘Jesus Calling’,

“You will not find My peace by engaging in excessive planning; attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced form of unbelief... I did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me.” (pg 272)

Once again, what I really want most deeply is God and His peace. I want my soul to be at rest. I want Him to be glorified and His purposes to be accomplished. I don’t want to miss the people and experiences that He places in front of me each day because I am too busy trying to ‘get things done’. I want to embrace this time and these moments instead of letting them slip away in a whirlwind of hurrying from one thing to another. 

So HOW do I do this?? 

There is no way to escape the fact that these next few months are going to be busy and challenging. Yet if I want God to consume my mind, heart, and life, how can I keep from rushing around and being consumed by completing tasks? 

How can I really see the people in front of me and slow down to listen to them? 

How can I soak in these moments with my little boys amidst the million things to do? 

How can I breathe in beauty and refreshment instead of being suffocated by stress? 

How can I be an encouragement to my husband by maintaining a soul at peace and rest, instead of him coming home to a frustrated and anxious wife many days? 

No, I can’t be perfect. 

No, I can’t get everything done. 

No, I can’t erase the stress or busyness of this season. 

But what does God require of me? 

“To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” – Micah 6:8

God just wants me to keep walking with Him – one day and moment at a time.

“Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For He has delivered your soul from death, your eyes from tears, and your feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” – Psalm 116:8-9

God wants me to live with my soul at rest in Him – to walk with Him – IN THE MIDST of every day life here on earth. 

The Bible is full of the promises and rewards of living in the presence of God – He will help, cheer, guide, hold, love, strengthen, lift up, and sustain His beloved (to mention only a few). What encouragement this is to me! 

“He asked life of You; You gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.” – Psalm 21:4

God is not in a hurry. 

His ‘to do’ list is usually quite different than mine. 

His Spirit gives life! 

His length of days are eternal.

Oh that I may learn to live in the soul rest and stillness of His Presence. May I learn to stop my rushing, over-planning, and striving for perfection. May I learn to just ‘be’ in the midst of each day, even as I must ‘do’ many things. I pray that He will give me the grace to embrace and enjoy these crazy and wonderful days!