I learned something new about Jesus this weekend. And it has had an immediate effect on me. With this something new came a new question: Are you living an unhurried life?
Twice in the last couple of days, the concept of living unhurried past before me. First, the leader of our small church house group I attend shared a John Mark Comer YouTube video with me. In this video Comer mentions a theologian who when asked to describe Jesus in one word replied, “Relaxed.” Jesus is relaxed.
Wow, I’ve never thought of Jesus in this way. Comer notes that Jesus was rarely, if ever, in a hurry. As I think about Jesus, I agree with Comer. Jesus was never in a hurry. Now I want to read Comer’s book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World.
The second time the concept of unhurried came to me arrived after church, as I sat down to spend time with Jesus and see what He wants me to write about today. I flipped the page of my copy of Susie Larson Blessings for Every Day to November 19. The title? “Unhurried Days.” Wow, do you think God is sending a message to me or what?
Are You Living an Unhurried Life?
As I walked into church this morning with my husband, I felt that unrelaxed, hurried spirit inside of me. As the church service began, I felt tense, no peace for the weary. There has been so much on my heart and mind, and I always seem to have a long to-do list too.
It’s been hard to settle down, feel peace, or relaxed. I can easily ask myself this question and know the answer: Are you living an unhurried life? Um, NO!
Our pastor preached on Ephesians 3:20-21,
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
As he shared how amazing our God is and that we can’t even measure what He’s capable of doing, a stirring began in my soul. Our faith matters. What we believe our God can do matters. God does stuff according to His great power and His riches in glory, not according to our abilities.
When pastor announced for the elders of the church to come forward so that people in the congregation could go up and get prayer, I got that stirring again. Not only is my to-do list overflowing, but there is a hard situation in my life. If you’ve read some of my blog posts during this November New Challenge, you know I have mentioned it. Not what it is, but that it is.
Two Powerful Encouragements
I saw one of the elders who taught me this summer walk up front, and I knew I needed to go forward for prayer. I did. He listened. He provided two powerful pieces of encouragement:
- When we don’t know what to do, we are in the right place with God. (Um, did he read my blog post this week?)
- We want God to be glorified. (Yes!)
So, in agreement, we prayed. He prayed for a lot of things, but as this elder prayed for peace that surpasses understanding, I could literally feel my body relax and peace consume me. I knew Jesus was present because in Ephesians 2:14 it says, “He Himself is our peace.”
My residual tears continued to flow for a while. But as I stood and sang at the end of the church service, I had peace, and I was relaxed.
Relaxed came to mind again. Jesus is relaxed. He’s not in a hurry. He meets us right where we are. He wasn’t about to speed up my tears and neither was I. I could be relaxed and at peace and still let my tears flow.
Somethings take time for God to fix and do that thing that only He can do. If he is not in a hurry, there is a good reason. I don’t need to be in a hurry either. The cool thing is, we can be relaxed and at peace even when we don’t know what to do and as we wait for God to do that thing that only He can do.
Hurried Season Ahead
As we enter one of the most hurried seasons of the year, may we choose to embrace more of Jesus, our relaxed, unhurried God. If Jesus is relaxed, we can be too. If Jesus is not in a hurry. We can be unhurried too. Are you living an unhurried life? If not, this is a good season to intentionally choose to live unhurried.
Maybe think about the things that cause you to feel hurried during this holiday season. Write all the things down. Recently, my son said to me, “You like pro and con lists.” Yes, I do. So, write your pro and con list. What are your pros for hurriedness? What are your cons for hurriedness?
My personal con list is long. One thing that pops out is I don’t experience peace and I don’t feel relaxed when I’m scurrying and hurrying about. This holiday season, I want peace and relaxation.
I hope as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we can be thankful for a God who is relaxed and unhurried.
Blessing from Susie Larson’s November 19 Blessings for Every Day
“May you step out of the hurriedness of the day and step into a pace that allows for face-to-face conversation with those you love. May you tighten your belt of truth and let go of the lie that says you carry your burden alone. May you set your face like flint and trust God’s promise to carry and establish you. And may you enjoy deep healing sleep tonight. Your Redeemer is strong.”
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