Jesus Never Asked You To Be Busy

I get you because I AM you… I’ve been you since I was 17. Always busy. Always “productive”. Living life like a race and running from activity to activity. Trying to achieve it all…

You’re overwhelmed and overbooked.

You’re under caffeinated and under-appreciated.

You’re busy.

If you’re anything like me then your favorite word is often, “YES”. You say yes without thinking, then find yourself in over your head. Life is moving faster than you and some mornings you wonder if there’s ever gonna be an eye cream good enough to hide your bags.

I get it.

However, friend, Jesus never asked you to be busy.

Don’t let your plans distract you from your purpose.

See there’s nothing wrong with keeping a calendar. There’s nothing wrong with having plans. But are you pursuing plans, or are you pursuing purpose?

I often get distracted from God’s will when I focus on my will. My will is to be busy, have plans, be productive, and to achieve success. But God’s will is forever for me to sit at His feet, focus on Him, and pursue my relationship with Him. I will never know why I was created if I don’t know my Creator and Savior.

There’s a passage I love in the bible where two women, Mary and Martha are preparing for Jesus to arrive. However, they each handle His arrival differently. Martha was the one who was preparing the house and Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Him.

Jesus told Martha, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one.”

Martha may have been the one who was being productive… but she was missing out on her purpose. What Martha was doing was helpful… but it wasn’t holy.

You only have one purpose and it is Jesus.

To love Jesus.

To be with Jesus.

To show other’s Jesus.

So to my busy, overwhelmed and tired friend – drop your worries. Drop your anxieties. Drop your to-do list. Drop your plans if they are getting in the way of time with sweet Jesus. Your purpose is more than your job, your activities, your financial stability, or your calendar. Jesus doesn’t want your schedule, your hustle, or your good deeds. Jesus wants YOU. When He said “come as you are” I don’t think He meant “come with a busy life”. He didn’t say “come when you have space in your life”. He meant for you to come right now in your weariness and sit at His feet. He meant for you to be authentically you and not bring your full resume. He meant for you to come now… even in the midst of the craziness of life.

Whether you are in college and overwhelmed with school or whether you are a post-grad overwhelmed with adulting… whether you are a mom of three or a single woman killing it at work…. do me a favor and make time for Jesus… Be with Jesus. Be with Jesus now. Call out to Him and give Him your silence so He has a chance to speak. Open your Bible and read His word.

I want to encourage you to trust Jesus over your plans. Your plans will fail. Your plans are your creation, not your Creator’s Son. Focus on Jesus and not your expectations. Focus on living for Him, not living for your schedule. And never forget that life isn’t about doing big things, it’s about living for your Big God.

Stop focusing on all the things and focus on Him. How are you supposed to figure out your purpose if you aren’t doing life with the One who created you? How are you supposed to change the world if you aren’t first sitting at the feet of the One who saved the world?

Many people will tell you to hustle. Many people will tell you that each day is about working harder and becoming smarter… but I promise friend… You can work as hard as you want but if you aren’t sitting at His feet you’re missing out on true purpose.

So go to work, study for the test, and do your squats… but before you do any of that sit quietly alone. Separate yourself from the hustle. Talk to Jesus and open up your Bible. Jesus wants you, not your hectic life, not your hustle. If you don’t seek Him first you’ll miss out on His beautiful kingdom.

Scripture to read: Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 6:33

Written for Devotionals Daily by Grace Valentine, author of Is It Just Me?

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Your Turn

Did you just take a big inhale of the Holy Spirit? This was meant for you today. Take this devotion as a message from God to get with Him today. Put aside your plans and take time to sit with Him, share with Him, listen to Him, read His Word. He’s waiting for you! ~ Devotionals Daily