What’s the Rush?

One time, back when I was nannying, I caught myself rushing for no reason apart from habit. I was home with the girls after school, and it was time for their snack and show before we started on homework/reading. And I remember hurrying the girls over to the couch so that they could sit down, take a break and enjoy some time together at home.

I have no idea what would’ve slowed me down in that moment apart from the Holy Spirit, who seemed to slow down time just long enough for me to realize what I was doing. We weren’t in a hurry! It was okay to slow down… in fact, the next thing on the ‘schedule’ was to rest. And one of the ways for me to help the girls chill after a long day of school, was to take a few breaths and join them on the couch for a bit.

Yes, I had four lunch boxes to empty out and a BILLION mini dishes to wash when I did that.
Yes, I had to start getting dinner ready.
Yes, there were agendas to check and make sure everybody got their homework done.

…while also feeding and entertaining the littlest year-old.

But now was the time to rest.

Recently I caught myself doing the same thing again. I was enjoying the evening after a long day… I had been sitting down for less than five minutes and I went to get up and do the next thing when suddenly, that familiar, gentle, voice asked, “What’s the rush?”

I was so caught off guard I sat back down, partially out of surprise, but mostly because what I needed in that moment was to rest.

Psalm 46 talks about God being our fortress. About how no matter what happens to the earth or the seas or the mountains, that God is in the midst of his people and that they will not be shaken. It talks about how even when the nations and kingdoms are raging and unstable, the sound of his voice can melt the earth. God is SO much bigger and stronger than the situations and circumstances around us.

And then, at the very end of this chapter, in verses 10 and 11 the Psalmist writes:

“’Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob our fortress.”

I have begun to see the connection between rest and trust. God tells us not just to be still because it feels nice or even because we need it… when he tells us to be still, he follows it up with a reminder that HE is God. And that he will be exalted. He’s got this. Whatever “this” means for you today, allow yourself a few extra moments to be still. Yes, there are other things to do and plan and sort through.

I promise you, when you choose to sit a while longer and spend it with the Lord, your perspective and response to those things will have shifted. When we take a minute to rest rather than rush, we allow the Holy Spirit to meet with us, minister to us, and send us out refreshed.