Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry.” I wish I could make these words of John Wesley my own. Most days for me are full, with numerous duties, deadlines, phone calls, e-mails, plans, and diary items to act on. Many times that peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) is pushed aside by busy thoughts and knots in the stomach.
Sometimes I wonder if my problem is theological. Generally speaking, the god you worship will determine the person you become. Yes, the true God is active. He governs every single moment of creation (Psalm 104). His eyes scan the earth, looking to strengthen faith (2 Chronicles 16:9). Each day, He motivates His people to carry out His work (Philippians 2:13).
But our God is also the God who rested after creation (Genesis 2:1-3) and has a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). If the growth of grass and the progress of history hint at His ways, God may also be busy but He’s never rushed. When God walked the earth in the person of Jesus, He once again pushed aside all notions of being rushed. He refused to let the crowds dictate His pace (Mark 1:35-39). He assured us that the Father was active (John 5:17), and that He did only what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). His pace was in step with His power.
As J. B. Phillips has said: “[Christ’s] task and responsibility might well have driven a man out of his mind. But He was never in a hurry, never impressed by numbers, never a slave of the clock. He was acting, as He said, as He observed God to act—never in a hurry.”
The Almighty God may be busy, but He is never in a hurry. Given that we are to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1), how does your pace compare?
More:
Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).
Next:
Why do you think our society struggles with “hurry sickness”? How will you seek to do only what the Father is doing today?
lindagma on December 2, 2010 at 6:32 am
Guilty…I’m going flat out or out flat from exhaustion these days. When will we ever put together a Christmas cantata without it. I find myself hurrying through devotions as though it was one more task to check off of my list…and how can we possibly accomplish giving Him the glory through our work if we do not slow down long enough to draw from Him. My minister of music and I are committed to change that pace next year…I pray that we do and give Him our best instead of our exhaustion.
Daren on December 2, 2010 at 10:05 am
I think its human nature to be in a hurry, especially nowadays, everything is rush, rush, rush. As Christians we MUST take time to pray, talk with God and read/study devotions as well as the Bible. I think we’d all be better for it.
AManofGod on December 2, 2010 at 12:25 pm
I’ve noticed that quite often we get caught up with the activities of our busy lives and we forget to make time for God and prayer…..until a tragic or difficult event comes at us! The we quickly run to God for assisastance. The sad part is we usually try everything at our disposal to rectify the situation and then we turn to God “as a last resort.’ GOD SHOULD BE OUR FIRST RESORT! When conflicts come into my life I am quick to try to fix them with my [limited] knowledge and ability but I should seek HIS knowledge and ability first…..it would make the situations so much clearer and easier.
I think of Psalm 46:10 where the Bible says “Be Still, and know that I am God”
We need to do that more and rely on our God more. Sometimes it is hard to be still….but it is worth it!
AManofGod
cuddles on December 3, 2010 at 8:18 pm
I once asked a college why he ate so fast and he answered there was 13 in his family and if you didn’t eat fast you didn’t eat. Employers give bonuses if you can do the job fast and society today does tend to look at you as lazy if you don’t keep up. When I told my supervisor that I could’t take on any more work as I was flat out I was told that as they were understaffed every one was under pressure and made me feel I wasn’t pulling my weight. Ever try getting onto the London underground you are literally pushed on if you don’t hurry. If you want to slow down the pace retire to the countryside. I always take time at night to say my prayers and listen to Discover the Word daily but its a fact of life that the pace of life is much faster today then in Jesus’s day.