Do you ever find yourself too busy to enjoy your life? You become bogged down with all the things you feel like you have to do, or what's required of you, and there's no time left to stop and smell the roses? I've been feeling that lately.
Yet at some point you have to realize that the busyness isn't what life's all about. Yes, there are things that need done, but if they don't get done today there's always tomorrow. Take time to enjoy your life, not just getting caught up in the busyness of it all.
I've found that work has been keeping me busy lately. Anyone experiencing staff shortages knows the feeling. Longer hours, less help, more work to get done. It takes its toll. However, you can't let it overtake the rest of your life either. If your whole life is about getting the work done, how will you appreciate the time off, when the work is done? Will you even take that time? Or when your shift is over and you're done for the day, do you find yourself worrying about the work you didn't get done that will be waiting for you tomorrow? It's hard not to fall into the latter sometimes.
But if you're constantly worried about the busyness, the never-ending to-do list, then you won't enjoy the breaks. Resting for a day, or even an hour, feels stressful when you are still thinking about that to-do list. You have to set it aside mentally to enjoy the time off physically. It's okay, whether that to-do list gets done or not isn't the end of the world.
What's more important is living the life God's called you to live. Yes, it's still important to work hard, but don't stress yourself out about what didn't get done. Jesus said it best in Matthew 6, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Do what you can today, but don't worry about the rest of it. Take it one day at a time. That's not to say you can't have long-term goals or things you're working on, but don't sweat what you can't get done today. Just do your best, and God'll handle the rest. Trust in Him.
That being said, some of us also need a shift away from the busyness of this world and to focus instead on the kingdom of God and Jesus's coming again. In America, many of us have become accustomed to the busyness and don't slow down to think about the kingdom work we ought to be doing. Paul warned against becoming like the world in Romans 12 when he said, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will." Of course we don't want to conform to the evil behaviors of sin in the world, but I believe this applies to our schedules too. Don't become so busy and so bogged down by the to-do lists that you neglect to live God's way. Spend time with Him and in His Word. Don't get so zoomed in on what you have to get done that you miss opportunities to share the Gospel or live like Jesus.
That's what Martha did. She was hosting Jesus in her home and was focused on all the things she needed to do to be a good, proper host for Him, but in focusing on her to-do list she missed out on time with Jesus. He told her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Mary was listening to and spending time with Jesus. Martha wanted her to come help, but Jesus said Mary had chosen what was more important: Him.
Don't miss out on time with God for the sake of all the things you're trying to get done. It's not worth it, but Jesus is. Choose Him instead.
I'm gonna be working on doing the same.
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