From Busyness and Hurry to Rest and Peace | Northlands Church

From Busyness and Hurry to Rest and Peace

October 17, 2017 | Terry Mitchell

From Busyness and Hurry to Rest and Peace

by: Terry Mitchell

Ruthlessly eliminate busyness and hurry.

I only do what I see my Father doing...Come to me you who are weary and overburdened... Matthew 11:28-30; John 5:19

If we were to look at the life of Jesus, we will see that while he was busy, his life was one of rest and peace. If we were to examine our own lives, we may actually find ours primarily filled with busyness and hurry. Is it culture that highlights the difference between our lives and Jesus’ or is it something much deeper.

Few cities in the West are busier than Atlanta. In personal greetings a common response to the question, “How are you?” a usual reply is “Fine and busy,” In fact we place a high value on being busy since most of us equate being busy with being responsible and fruitful, a couple of respected virtues. Busyness, though, is different from being busy. Busyness is a state of distraction with attending worry and care. In busyness we fill our responsible and fruitful lives with other busy items and events that give us little time to enter into a place of rest, to spend time in prayer or in contemplation of scripture – to spend time with the Lord – for that time is already too full.

Hurry is normal in Atlanta, especially in morning and evening traffic. The cars may not be moving fast at rush hour, but many if not most drivers feel the pressure to be somewhere else rather than being in the present moment stuck in traffic. The pressure of hurry is the antithesis of rest in peace. Dallas Willard, when asked about what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus stated, “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

Jesus’ life was full, responsible, and fruitful. His life was characterized by rest and peace. He said of himself, “I only do what I see the Father doing…” (John 5:19). Jesus didn’t overfill his life with ministry to others. He spent time in prayer and contemplation and only ministered from a place of rest and peace. Jesus’ stance seemed to be, “If the Father is doing this work, then this work must be good and sufficient for me.”

Jesus also offers us the rest and peace from busyness and hurry when He invites, “Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened from your work and cares, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble-hearted, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-30).

What work do you see the Father doing? Try offering your busyness and hurry to Him, and begin to look for rest and peace to fill your soul.
For a great sermon from Tom Borsic entitled “The Remedy to Busyness” from a recent Sunday, please click here: https://northlandschurch.com/watch/try-this-at-home/the-remedy-for-busyness.

Prayer

Father, how do I ruthlessly eliminate hurry and busyness from my life?  Teach me to learn of Jesus and live from His deep rest and peace.

© 2024 Northlands Church and Terry Mitchell. Permission to share so long as credit is given.