My cooking has gotten worse lately. About a month ago, I shared some sweet potato chili with my family, and half the sweet potatoes were still hard as rocks. Last week, I cooked a dish I’ve made dozens of times, and I overcooked the sausage, until it was so tough it took twice as long as normal to chew through a piece. (And that was the meal I ended up bringing over to a friend, before realizing how much I’d overcooked it.)
Then I made a new breakfast dish, but I undercooked it, so there were watery eggs weeping out of the center. I also over-salted a batch of soup, didn’t bake one pizza long enough, then baked another pizza too long.
I often make mistakes in my cooking, especially when trying new recipes. But my errors have been happening more frequently — and with dishes I’ve been making for years. I can’t chock these mistakes up to inexperience. Rather, these errors are due to hurry.
I left the sausage dish in too long because I was doing other things and not paying attention. I took the eggs out too early because I was running out of time before needing to drive my kids somewhere. I didn’t let the chili simmer long enough because, again, I was jumping to the next thing.
I’m not leaving enough time to finish one task properly before I go on to start the next. My brain feels scattered and frenetic. I’ve taken on too much.
I’ve been darting back and forth through my days looking as frantic as a squirrel trying to cross a busy road. And, like those squirrels, I’ve left no margin for error, no space if I need to veer to the side. So when a meal requires five more minutes in the oven, or when an article I submitted needs more editing than I anticipated, or when a child requires a little more attention than normal, I’m completely thrown off course. There’s no time for those things, and I end up rushing around, living a haphazard life.
Our rushing, our doing too much, and our habitual overcommitment make life and work harder than they need to be. Jesus gives us an easy yoke and a light burden, but then we insist on adding “hurry” on top. And hurry always ends up being heavy.
We may have seasons in life that are busier than others. They require more of us, more of our time and energy and effort. But what God calls us to is never meant to be fueled by “anxious toil,” as Psalm 127 says. He doesn’t want us running on the fumes of our own messiah-complex, and He doesn’t want us living in frantic fear because we don’t trust Him.
One of my favorite passages is Psalm 131. The second verse says, “But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me” (Psalm 131:2, ESV).
If I were to describe the state of my soul, I probably wouldn’t use the words “calm and quiet.” Frantic and harried more accurately describe me most days. But even in busy seasons, chaos, or hardship, King David reminds us through the words of Psalm 131 that our souls can, in fact, be calm and quiet. We can slow down, refusing to live a life of anxious toil and instead resting in the arms of our infinite, sufficient God who cares for us like a mother cares for her child.
I’m still learning this, and I have a long way to go. “Hurry” can be a glittery temptation. It feels more productive and can sometimes make us look good from the outside. But hurry is not the way of a God who is never in a rush.
He’s a God who gave us the Sabbath and a God who crafted us to be finite. And He’s also a God who invites us to a life marked not by how much we get done or how well we can multitask. Rather, He invites us to set down the burden of hurry and live the life He’s called us to, all with a calm and quiet soul.
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Jill says
I, too, tend to overbook myself. I tend to focus on the next thing versus being present. It causes so much disarray. This is a wonderful reminder to slow down. Beautiful words.
Sarah says
I can very much relate to this! Grateful this post was an encouragement!
Madeline says
Amen to all of it. I get it!!!
Sarah says
So grateful this was an encouragement!
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Susan I had to slow down not feel I had to do as much for others. Think of myself. As tend to think of other more than myself. Then I get my health suffers because of it. I do home help for my Dad. I do enjoy it. But you could have my Dad’s who is 82 next month spotless today. Come tomorrow it as if you didn’t do it at all. My sister’s they don’t get to help our Dad as much as me. Because they have kids to see too. Homework to do. Football brownies to take them to etc. Plus they are working. But the so visit our Dad in evenings. Do what they can. So I feel if I don’t do for our Dad. It not get done. Then it stays dirty. My Husband keeps telling me. If your Dad not worried nor your Sisters. Why should you. As long as the basic done for him. Like his bathroom kitchen fire cleaned plus bed made. Plus the odd wash done of his clothes and left dry for the ironing lady. The rest will do. I do to much as I like to see it left right. Then it can affect me. As then tiredness then take over in my own life. That I too tired to do my own house. I bring it on myself. As God has told me to slow down. Don’t feel I have my Dad’s house tidy every day for him. Do the basics for him and twice a week put on wash for for him. Rest more think of me. Don’t exhaust myself. As Jesus took time to rest and be about his Father’s business. I feel God saying yes help your Dad. But take time to also to rest and be like my son Jesus did. Take time to rest and be about my business in prayer and reading my word. That good advice for me from the Lord. Thank you for today reading it has spoke to also. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xx
Ruth Mills says
i was recently asked to take on a bigger role in ministry in our women’s ministry at church. I struggled with saying yes. I didn’t want to overextend myself & shortchange the roles I already have. We are busy as in BUSY already!!! I so want to schedule a PJ day– no alarm clock set, nothing on the calendar and only get up when we want, do what we want, take showers only if we want to and just wallow in being together and rest but the calendar is ugly full. Maybe in March??? Yet that nudge to not say no kept pushing me. Saying yes means I must be more, as in totally, dependent on God to order my steps to get it all done and all done well. What more perfect place is there to be? Not hurried, not overwhelmed with the to do list just intentional in my steps to accomplish the tasks and willing to ask for help from others after asking God for help in each step. He wants us to be more reliant on Him each day. Say no to hurry & yes to Him even if the yes is a no to doing more. Blessings upon blessings! (((0)))
kimmie says
My brain is soooooo over busy. I’m trying to check all the boxes but I’m spinning out.
ELMorehead says
Wow, this is So TRUE! Thank you.
Beth Williams says
Sarah,
Life can get super busy at times. We have to schedule margin into our lives. Take time each week-each day for rest & being with Jesus. Taking a look at Jesus’ life He was never ever in a hurry. When Lazarus died He waited three days to go down there. While on His way to Jairus’ house to heal his daughter Jesus took time for a woman who touched His cloak to heal herself. If Jesus can rearrange His schedule for rest or to help others then we should do likewise.
Blessings 🙂