God will provide enough time for what He wants me to do—so why do I constantly hurry through life?
I thrive on accomplishment. I get a thrill when checking things off my daily list of tasks. People describe me as a doer.
All the personality tests I have taken confirm this aspect of my character. In the Enneagram construct, I identify with the number three. This number—often known as The Achiever—describes people who are goal-oriented and afraid of failure. When I took the Clifton Strengths assessment, I found out my top strength is “Achiever.” According to this profile, I find enormous gratification in being busy and productive.
Give me a list to check off and I’m happy. Give me a goal to work toward and I’m fired up. Give me a task to accomplish and I’ll do it.
But in all this doing and accomplishing and achieving, I rarely take time to simply be. I lose sight of the fact that God does not base my worth on how many tasks I complete. He values me simply because I am His beloved child.
To counteract my overactive productivity genes, I now occasionally put aside my projects and to-do lists and simply revel in being someone God loves. I’m exploring four ways to be: playful, present, slow, and still.
Time to Be Playful
When was the last time you played? If you’re anything like me, you might feel guilty for “wasting” time doing an activity that doesn’t earn money, produce something useful, or clean your house.
But play can renew your soul. Play can energize your spirit. Play can remind you that you are more than what you accomplish. Rachel Marie Kang, in her excellent book, Let There Be Art, writes:
"Play is more about truth than it is about time. It’s just as much about belief in purpose as it is about belief of pleasure. It matters to do things because you want to and not because you have to. It matters to believe that you exist not simply because of what you can do but because of who you are."
So take time to be playful. Get out that watercolor paint set—even if you don’t produce museum-quality art. Sit down at the piano and get lost in the music. Get out a board game and play with your family. Knit something for the pleasure of creating something beautiful.
Take time to be playful, remembering that your value does not come from your productivity.
Take Time to Be Present
I admit that I struggle with focusing on the current moment. Because of my delight in planning and organizing my time, my attention often flits to what is next instead of enjoying what is now. But Jesus tells us, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34). God wants us to enjoy the present without constant concern for the future.
At times, I have experienced the joy of being present. I remember one of the first times I felt this delight. At age nineteen, I was performing and traveling the country with a Christian singing group. One glorious May day our route took us through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. I reveled in the sight of the still, snow-capped peaks, the sound of Keith Green on the bus sound system, and the breeze coming through the open bus windows. I wanted to memorize the sights, sounds, and feelings of that moment.
Of course, not every day includes a scenic drive through God’s glorious creation. But if I pay attention, I can find other joys in the present. I can inhale the aroma of my cup of mango-passionfruit tea. I can stare at the beauty of the clouds—if only for a few moments. I can worship in the solace of the strumming guitar on my favorite-of-the-moment praise song. I can thank God for the touch of my husband’s hand in mine.
Take time to be present. Thank God for His good gifts of the moment.
Take Time to Be Slow
Our world moves at a frenetic pace—a speed our souls have trouble keeping up with. In my hurry to do more, accomplish more, achieve more, I often find that any peace I once possessed has disappeared in the dust of my rushing.
What would happen if I simply slowed down? Would my heart rate settle? My adrenaline levels return to a healthy place? Would I sense God’s presence a bit more if I didn’t constantly dash through my days? Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” God will provide enough time for what He wants me to do—so why do I constantly hurry through life?
To counteract our culture’s hurry-up mentality, I’m trying to practice the spiritual discipline of slowing. Believe me, this does not come naturally. But I’ve discovered some practical ways to decelerate the pace of my life. I can aim to arrive at appointments five to ten minutes early—enough time to catch my breath. I can purposely choose the longest line at the store—enough time to grow my patience. I can read a poem and pause at the end of every line—enough time to savor the words. I can stop work in the middle of the day to read a devotion or passage of Scripture—enough time to remember God’s love for me.
Take time to be slow. Hurry increases our stress and decreases our awareness of God’s presence.
Take Time to Be Still
In Psalm 46:10, the Lord tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Did you notice? He doesn’t say, “Be productive and know that I am God” or “Be efficient and know that I am God.” Somehow, operating in accomplishment mode at the highest speed possible doesn’t usually allow me to know God better. Achievement gear focuses on my abilities and my skills. But when I still my heart and pause my activity, I can notice what God is doing in my life. I can appreciate the peace He places in my heart. The care He provides. The love He pours into my spirit.
Sometimes when I’m preparing to drive to a destination I haven’t traveled to before, I put the address in my GPS app and then manipulate the screen to look at the route it has chosen. After I’ve looked ahead in the journey, the app asks me, “Re-center?” When I press the “re-center” button, it returns the map to my starting point—where I am now.
One of my favorite spiritual disciplines does the same thing for my soul. When I practice Centering Prayer, I learn to be still, calm my tendency to rush ahead, and remember God’s love for me in the present moment.
To try this practice, I suggest you silence your phone, but also set a timer for the time you’d like to spend in prayer so you don’t get tempted to keep looking at the clock. Sit in a quiet place. Close your eyes. Let your racing thoughts pass through your mind. Focus on God’s great love for you. Perhaps picture yourself in a favorite nature setting. See the mountains in your mind or imagine the lap of the water on the shore of the lake. I find it helpful to contemplate a verse of Scripture, focusing on one word at a time. Pour out your prayers to your Heavenly Father. Even five minutes of this practice will help you be still in God’s presence.
Take time to be still. Re-center your mind in God’s love. He will calm your stressed-out thoughts and bring peace to your heart.
When I take time to play, focus on the present moment, slow down, and be still, I am more likely to remember that my worth doesn’t come from my accomplishments. I become more aware of God walking with me in the ordinary moments of the day. He reminds me that I do not need to live life in the fast lane, constantly striving to achieve and make my life count. He whispers that I am already loved.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/CentralITAlliance
Sharla Fritz is a Christian author and speaker who weaves honest and humorous stories into life-changing Bible study. Author of the new book Measured by Grace: How God Defines Success, Sharla writes about God’s transforming grace and unfailing love. Sharla lives in the Chicago suburbs with her amusing pastor husband. Get her FREE ebook 21 Five-Minute Soul-Rest Practices or connect with Sharla at www.sharlafritz.com and Facebook.
