We are all in a rush – or so it seems. Sometimes we hurry because we didn’t allow enough time for ourselves to get ready. Other times we are simply impatient. It may be that we have scheduled meetings too close together or we have simply over-packed our schedule. I am guilty of all of the above. So – we hurry.
Hurry is evident all around us. We have all been on the roads when some manic – oops, I mean “unaware individual” drives like he is going to a fire. They dangerously weave in and out of traffic in an effort to get somewhere more quickly, but in reality arrive at the next stoplight or freeway exit, 30 seconds ahead of everyone else. Are those few extra seconds worth risking our lives? Recently a person was ticketed and locked up for a few days because he was driving his motorcycle up I-25 in Colorado, hitting speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour. Did I mention he was on a MOTORCYCLE?
Living our lives in a hurry increases our stress, raises blood-pressure, and simply overloads our already depleted systems. We weren’t designed to live this way! We may need to work on patience, or leaving on time. We need to leave more margin in our planning (that’s a big one for me). But, whatever we need to do, it is crucial that we heed the advice gleaned from Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.” Be still might be better translated – “Cease striving.” The benefits we will gain from these seven words can benefit us in more ways than we know – if we will heed them. I encourage you to reflect on this passage – but there is no hurry.