The faster I go the “behinder” I get. Ever hear that? Do you
believe it? I do now. I once had so much to do that I had to move faster and
faster to complete or even catch up with the work. I once was a senior hospital
executive and worked 12-16 hour days, often including weekends. I don’t think
this is unique to hospitals or me. Do you relate to this? If so, that’s a
problem, one of the biggest ones in our western society. Slowing down is
quitting or getting behind or just being lazy I hear many saying. God would say
that is a fatal flaw.
God is described in Exodus 34:6 “The Lord, the Lord, the
compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and
faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness,
rebellion and sin.” Yes God is a
lot, more than we can describe. But many think He is slow. “The Lord is not slow in keeping
His promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting
anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9). Now
there is a great contrast between God and people. Awesomely God has made some
7,500 promises in Scripture and He keeps them all in His timing and ways. Therein
lies the problem for many people, He’s too slow, I need it now! But that’s not
how God works or wants us to work. God is patient and waits for us to slow down
even stop and repent of our quick and sinful ways. He wants us to come to faith in the only One
who can help us slow down with purpose. Self-discipline will help, but only
when empowered by the Holy Spirit.
God wants us also to be slow in other ways. “My dear brothers and sisters,
take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow
to become angry” (James
1:19). We have a tendency to jump to conclusions or react to comments. This is
not pleasing to God. It has taken me most of my adult life to come to grips
with this. In fact, I am learning that it might even be better to not be just
slow but silent at times. I don’t have to comment on everything said. I might
learn something if I actually listen slowly without working on my next
statement while the other person is talking.
In the beginning God created heaven and earth and everything
in it in six days. Then He rested on the seventh, not because He needed it, but
because we need it. We need to slow down and refresh, be renewed. Resting is slowing
down. Isaiah 30:15 says “In
repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust in your strength,
but you would have none of it.” Do you get that? Rest brings us strength.
Slowing down is part of that. We just returned from a short vacation. My wife
said it took the first three days to relax. You cannot rest if you are not
relaxed and you need to slow down intentionally to do it.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.