The invitation God gives us is often the opposite of what our instincts tell us. When problems arise, we want to fix, plan, and act. But God invites us to pause and remember that He is already present and working. Time spent with Him is never wasted; it is where our hearts are renewed and our souls are restored.

God is not asking us to accomplish more to earn His love. He is inviting us into relationship with Him. Whether it is thirty minutes or just a few quiet moments throughout the day, sitting in God’s presence, reading His Word, and praying allows us to step away from the rush and experience His peace.

Jesus Himself was never hurried or driven by the need to prove His worth through productivity. Through Him, we are reminded that we do not have to carry burdens God never intended for us to hold. When we return to Him, we find the rest and strength we need for each day.

Highlights:

God does not measure our faithfulness by how busy we are, but by how closely we walk with Him.
Isaiah reminds us that true strength comes through returning to God, resting, and trusting Him.
Productivity can become a burden when we believe our worth depends on what we accomplish.
Spending quiet time with God restores our hearts and helps us recognize His presence.
Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to Him and receive rest.
Slowing down creates space to hear God’s voice and trust His direction.

Join the Conversation

Where do you feel the most rushed in your life right now? What would it look like to intentionally slow down and invite God into that space?

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Full Transcript Below:

God Is Not Rushing You
By Sarah Frazer

Bible Reading:
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” - Isaiah 30:15, 18

My daughter does not like to be rushed. In so many ways I am the same way. When planning things I always give myself extra time. American culture is one that is governed by time. Events start on time and we complain if we are made to wait. It is easy to fall into the mindset of rushing when being dictated by the clock.

Rarely do people have time to rest, be quiet, and wait. Me included. My days are often packed with endless activities and to-do lists. For so long if I didn’t do anything on a particular day - that day felt unproductive. My to-do list can be like a taskmaster, running my day-to-day life. Somewhere along the way, I started to believe that a full schedule meant a faithful life—and that slowing down meant I was falling behind.

In Isaiah 31 we read the words: “in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” God’s people, the Israelites, had been running away from God, not toward him. They were about to be attacked by their enemies, but instead of going to God, they turned to other allies. They tried to fix things on their own.

Isaiah, the prophet, spoke from God to tell the people that rescue would come a different way. It would come through returning to God, resting. This is counter intuitive, isn’t it? We often think the opposite: the way out of trouble is to run, move, and act! God, though, wasn’t asking for more effort but for them to return to Him. While they were rushing to solve their problems, God was inviting them to be still.

You and I are the same. We rush to fix problems, stay productive, and make sure we don’t let anything “fall through the cracks.” How often do we believe that faithfulness is the same as being busy? For so long, I have believed that my purpose in life - why God loved me and what God wanted from me - was to be productive. Faithfulness isn’t about that at all.

Friend, God invites us to return to him. How do we do this? Begin by sitting with God. That’s right. Stop at some point in your day (each day) to just sit and be with God. Don’t scroll. Don’t move. Just be still. Time in God’s presence is not wasted time—it is where our souls are restored. While you are sitting there, learn the value of not talking, thinking, or worrying.

During that time, use a few minutes to be in His Word. Don’t rush through a reading of the Bible, but linger with it. Listen to God’s voice as you read the words (or listen to the audio). As you do, let your heart naturally speak to God in prayer. Start a conversation with God. Maybe it will be about what you read, but mostly it can be about what is on your heart. Embrace the quietness, if possible. God is not asking you to do more—He is inviting you to be with Him. Those moments, whether they are thirty minutes or 3 minutes, can make such a difference in our day.

Many of us are tired not because we’re doing too little, but because we’re carrying what God never asked us to carry. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

God is not hurrying us along. He is gently inviting us to return, to rest, and to trust Him right where we are. As we learn to slow our hearts today, may we learn how to step out of the rush and into His presence. God can teach us to trust Him in the quiet places. This stopping, even for a moment, means we don’t have to strive; God is already near.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Jesus was never hurried, rushed, or needed to prove His worth by His productivity. You don’t either. As you start your day, remember to slow down and spend a few moments in prayer. Ask God to help you have strength for your day. In the dark at night, lift your heart to God again, asking Him for peace as you sleep. Where in your life do you feel the most rushed right now—and what would it look like to intentionally slow down and invite God into that space?

Further Reading
Psalm 46
Luke 10:39-42
Mark 6:31
Matthew 11:28-30

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