Slowing Down: Wednesday in the Word

Do you ever feel like slowing down for a moment is needed but impossible? This spring and summer were like that for me, and I’m still trying to recover. My list from April to September was by far the craziest I’ve ever experienced.

Two writing conferences (one to attend and one to help organize), a new church for my husband to pastor, a book to release, two books to finish and turn in to my publisher within two weeks of each other, one camp to help at, one youth camp to direct, a VBS to direct, edits to complete on a novella, a back-to-school tea party to organize,a long work weekend at the camp, and helping my mom plan her first book launch party filled my calendar with things to do. And my list didn’t take into account sick days (Thank you, covid), watching my grandson, doing any housework, keeping up with my blog (and newsletters and social media) or spending time with my family.

All of things provided blessings in my life. Well, maybe not covid. But all the others did. They all gave opportunities for growth, fellowship, and ministry. They offered me times to connect with those who needed my encouragement and allowed me to find the encouragement I needed through others. I’m so glad God gave me the opportunity for each endeavor.

But, I’ll be completely open here. My energy is depleted. My mind is mush. And my emotions are all over the place. Due to the overloaded schedule I kept, especially June through August, even my regular level of activity is almost too much at the moment.

Writing and all it encompasses (social media, blogs, reviews, podcasts, virtual assistant tasks), needs at home, and church/ministry demands all vie for time and energy. Two commodities lacking in my life since this summer’s rush.

In times like these, I’ve discovered the strangest paradox. When my schedule pushes me the most, I need to slow down. Even with tasks filling each line of my to-do list, I accomplish more when I refuse to rush forward and instead give my attention to God.

Scripture tells us to be still before God and seek Him first. It encourages committing our plans and ways to Him. The Bible warns against worrying about the future and the tasks we must accomplish.

For me, this means taking time for study, prayer, praise, and reflection. I want to commit my plans and goals to Him. Though I try, I know, many times,  my own ideas are less than stellar. I’m not perfect at it. In fact, I don’t think I’m really that good at it or consistent. But I want to be. I desire more of God and less of me. More peace and less worry. And I definitely want more calm in my mind and less of the frantic pace I tend to adopt.

I want to remember and live out Proverbs 16:1-3. “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”

If I allow God to establish my plans, I know they won’t be too little or too much. They will be perfect for me. But to do this, slowing down and committing my work (all of it from writing to housework to writing reviews) to Him and listening for Him to tell me where my steps should go is essential.

How does slowing down and committing your path to God help you?