Rejecting Busy: Embracing a Sacred Pace
As a culture, we tend to glorify busyness, productivity, expansion, and increase, no matter the cost. We celebrate the go-getters, the super-achievers who are always hustling, setting goals, making money, and juggling a million hats at once. They run on coffee and never seem to sleep. Ambition is what gets them up in the morning, and adrenaline keeps them up at night.
Unfortunately, we rarely mention the high cost of running on all cylinders 24/7 and the very real impact of living a life with no margin, no leeway, and no rest.
We ignore the effects on our health—both physical and mental—and the toll it takes on those closest to us.
But what kind of life are we living if achieving outward results leaves us completely spent?
I’ll be the first to admit: I used to be that person (and sometimes, I still am). I genuinely find it hard to stop, to relax, to just be. I’m prone to measuring my day by how much I tick off my to-do list and constantly assess whether I’m keeping up with the plan I’ve created in my head. I used to think holidays weren’t important and that taking time off was unnecessary if I was doing what God called me to do.
Little did I know that stopping, resting, and living in heaven’s divine rhythm was the very thing that would help me do just that.
Thankfully, over the past year, I’ve experienced a dramatic shift. My goalposts haven’t just moved—they’ve disintegrated. My idea of success and fulfillment has changed completely.
For me now, success is more about how my life feels at its core, rather than how it appears on the surface.
Today, my litmus test of purpose and contentment centers on these questions:
Am I genuinely carrying peace, joy, love, and compassion?
Am I worshipping and serving God out of adoration or obligation?
Am I living in tune with my own needs, the needs of others, and the heart of God?
Do I have time for the things that truly matter, or am I pushing what’s precious to the periphery of my life?
Am I saying yes to all that God asks of me, not just what I think I should do?
The truth is, for many years, I was too busy for God, too busy for people, and almost too busy for myself. My life had so little margin that the smallest addition tipped the scales toward breaking point. Working for God, rather than being with Him and enjoying His presence, so often took precedence.
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) speaks to this:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
What a promise, that we would live in the unforced rhythms of grace!
Just as a song has rests and pauses, our lives are designed to abide in a divine rhythm of motion and rest. Here are five keys that have helped me apply this principle—something I’m still learning to do:
1. Slow Down
In a world that glorifies busyness, we must learn to slow down. We must be fully present in our faith, our communities, and our families. I often find myself rushing and striving, and it’s a travesty that we forgo the peace Jesus gave us.
There is power in the pause. The Hebrew word Selah, which appears 74 times in the Bible, literally means to stop, to pause in His presence. Psalm 46:10 reminds us:
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Even Jesus knew how to stop.
Luke 5:16 tells us, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” If Jesus, God incarnate, took time to be alone with the Father, how much more should we?
2. Discover Solitude and Silence
“Solitude is the practice of being absent from people and things to attend to God. Silence is the practice of quieting every inner and outer voice to attend to God.”
— Peter Scazzero
We often miss God’s voice because our lives are too loud. To hear the Holy Spirit, we must turn down the world’s volume and enter the space created by solitude and silence.
Put down your phone and pick up your Bible.
Phones are both a blessing and a curse. They are useful but can be distracting. How much revelation are we missing because we choose to scroll Instagram instead of diving into God’s Word?
3. Practice the Sabbath
In Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero unpacks the Sabbath as not just a time to stop working but a space to hear from God, delight in His presence, and contemplate His goodness.
It’s something we’ve tried to honor in our family. It’s not always a full day, but a good portion of our Saturday is set aside for God and each other—not out of obligation but from a desire to enjoy God’s blessings.
When we honor the Sabbath, we respect our limits and demonstrate our reliance on God, not ourselves.
Even the God who created the universe rested on the seventh day. Let’s follow His example and work from a place of rest.
4. Say No
As a recovering people-pleaser, I often bite off more than I can chew, crowding my calendar and then blaming others for the way I feel. But I’ve learned that sometimes, to do things well, I need to say no—not to family, God, or my core responsibilities but to the extra things I voluntarily take on.
We need to discern what we can let go of and say yes to what truly matters.
5. Refuel and Refill
You can’t pour from an empty cup.
To love and nurture others, your soul must be nourished and rested, operating from overflow, not deficit. John 15 reminds us to remain in life-union with Jesus so that fruitfulness flows from us.
As we learn to rest, refuel, and refill, we’ll have more to give—to our friends, families, communities, and God.
May we live in the unforced rhythms of grace, fully trusting that God’s presence and peace will lead us every step of the way.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article reflect my personal Christian beliefs and are not intended to be imposed on others. Readers are encouraged to explore their own spiritual and professional beliefs in line with their values.