From Hurry to the Unforced Rhythms of Grace

The Pace of Modern Life

Life is amazing, isn’t it? Compared to our grandparents, we can buy ready-made food, heat it instantly and have almost anything delivered to our door within a day. We have “time-saving” machines for washing, dishes, hoovering and even cutting the grass. We carry incredibly “smart” devices in our pockets, giving us information, entertainment and connection at the press of a button. 

We don’t have to wait for much anymore. 

So, why do so many of us feel hurried, anxious and overwhelmed?

With all our “time-saving” devices, why does life feel faster than ever?

Have you ever wished that life would just slow down?

When Life Becomes Overfull

For many years, our lives certainly didn’t feel slow. We were managing a business, involved in the local church, building community and raising five children. There was so much to be thankful for–good things, enjoyable moments and so much possibility. Yet our days often felt full to overflowing.

We spent countless hours in the car, driving to work, attending meetings and ferrying the children from one place to another. There were business pressures, church commitments and the everyday demands of family life.

Looking back now, I honestly don’t know how we sustained that pace for so long. Not because life was falling apart–but because beneath the surface we could sense something wasn’t right.

The life we were living wasn’t sustainable. Something had to change.

When time becomes scarce, the first thing to suffer is often our relationship with the Father. 

Not because we stopped loving Him.

But because hurry leaves little room to notice Him.

We had so many questions about how to live as followers of Jesus?

What might that look like?

How do we invest our time in the things that matter most?

How do we slow down and simplify our lives to a point where we felt like we could breathe again?

Surely, this isn’t how God intended us to live? There must be a different way!

When Hurry Becomes Our Default

How often do we move through our days physically present but spiritually absent?

Jesus Offers a Different Way

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30.

Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? But when we feel trapped in the busyness of life, these ideas can seem impossible to take hold of. It’s like trying to catch smoke–the harder we grasp for rest, the more it slips through our fingers.

Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry

John Ortberg, in his book, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” quotes an answer to a question he asked a wise friend (Dallas Willard).

“What do I need to do to be spiritually healthy?

After a long pause, Dallas says, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

John waits and asks, “What else is there?” Dallas’s answer? “There is nothing else.”

The word “ruthless” has some strong negative connotations when we apply it to other people – “showing no pity, compassion, or mercy.” But in this instance of hurry, we must show no pity, compassion, or mercy for those things that crowd out the very life-giving love and hope that comes from building our lives around God.

Our very lives depend on it.

Hurry is no longer simply moving fast. It has become an inner posture.

Hurry fills every quiet gap. It keeps us anticipating the next thing. Hurry trains us to rush through life, rather than living in the moment and noticing.

Something had to change for us, so over the past twenty years, we have changed the way we live. We have learnt to slow down, living intentionally and with purpose. We have learnt to build our lives around God, making Him the absolute centre, not just in word, but in our hearts’ desire to be closer to Him.

We have chosen to apprentice under Jesus, learning from Him–His ways, His teachings and the rhythms of life He invites us into.

Please, don’t think for a moment that we’ve figured out life—we haven’t. However, we are on a lifelong journey, committed to following Jesus, becoming like Him and following where He leads.

• Do we still struggle? Most definitely.
• Do we still have questions? A lot.
• Are we doing this alone? No, we are part of a small community of amazing people committed to building each other up, speaking truth and walking this journey of discovery together.
• Are we still busy? Yes, at times, like most people. But we have learnt to say “No”.
• What have we discovered since this journey began? Purpose, meaning, identity, peace and the truth that a life built around God and listening to His voice brings us a fullness to life that we hadn’t known before.

If God feels distant, it’s not that He has moved away.
Perhaps we are simply moving too quickly to notice Him.

In the verses above, Jesus invites each of us who is tired and worn out to come to Him. It’s in Him that we will find rest and recover our lives. It’s not in the busyness of life, but in the quiet place, walking with Jesus. It’s only in this place that we will learn “the unforced rhythms of grace”, how to create and sustain simple rhythms that help us to build our lives around Him. It’s only in this place that we will learn to live freely and lightly.

Open your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to shine a light into the dark corners and invite Him to lead you into a slower pace of life, to re-orientate your life towards God. Thank Him for His presence with you and ask Him to help you be more aware of His nearness to you throughout the day.

Sit for a moment.

Don’t rush to the next thing.

God is here.