S-L-O-W D-O-W-N

Jeremiah 2:25 – “Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? But you say, ‘I can’t help it. I’m addicted to alien gods. I can’t quit.’

This is something that I struggle with a lot…as a matter of fact, this is extremely hard for me to write. I have made a ton of excuses as to why 1) I couldn’t write this, 2) shouldn’t write this, and 3) I am definitely not qualified to write this.

It’s funny…if you knew me you would think that I go at a pretty “normal” pace, but those who truly know me know that I tend to run, think, and go at a fast pace. When I get to thinking and talking about something that I am passionate about, and more specifically if I am “dreaming out loud” I can throw down the words and bounce from idea to idea, and in that process I tend to leave those “dreaming out loud” with me standing there in stunned silence. I can’t help it…when I get going I go bananas…ha!

As a matter of fact…when you are used to going at a break neck pace it is unbelievably hard to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n. Seriously…there is some sort of adrenaline rush in that pace, and you almost have to force yourself to break that cycle. I had been at that break neck pace for 4 ½ years and recently things changed and I started the strategic plan to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n…it’s been slow to adjust, but now, 8 weeks later, I am starting to see just how unhealthy that was…

A very good friend of mine sent me this email recently…she gave me her permission to share it with you all…

I re-read what you said about being used to being busy… and then when things slow down it is hard to figure out your path and your purpose. I can understand that! I feel so used to being frantic and going at warp speed that when things slow down, I am a little lost… even depressed… as if my worth comes from being so busy I can’t sit and think…and, of course, my brain knows that rest is good…but somehow I feel unaccomplished if I do not have 50 items to check off my list on a daily basis…why is that?? Why would I think that my Father would want me to run at a frantic pace forever?? He wants us to rest. He knows we need it. He knows there is growth and purpose in rest…and it is good for the soul. But our flesh fights against it… the deceiver whispers in our ears that we aren’t accomplished, that we aren’t successful, that we are lazy and washed up…and we buy it! So then we wander into the land of self doubt, and self pity, and confusion… when all along, our Father was saying, “Hey, you have been going a million miles a minute… and now you need a little rest so I can re-energize you for the next season..” but we can’t hear His small, still voice because we are wrapped up in our doubts and fear…

What a cycle to break!! The good news is that it is a mold we do not have to live in… we have the authority to break free of that bondage… we have to really look at the situation with an eternal perspective… not an earthly one… but one framed by His hand… and then we will begin to trust (blindly) that He has so much more for us… and that it is more than okay to slow down and breathe and rest and learn and grow… all of the things we NEED!

I know that God is growing me, stretching me, and preparing me for the next big adventure…in the mean time I need to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and rest for a season.

Luke 10:39-41 – She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be so busy that I forget to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n and focus on what is truly the most important.

How about you…do you struggle with slowing down?

If so, what has you running around at that pace?

If not, what can you share with others so that they can s-l-o-w d-o-w-n too.

Trying to slow down,