The Deception of Busyness

Hustle. Work hard. Make the most of every single opportunity. These are all things that we associate with being successful, and being successful is something that all of us desire to be. Living our lives for Christ doesn’t change that desire. We want to be good stewards of everything that has been entrusted to us. We want to use the gifts and talents we’ve been given to the fullest. When the fire of God hits us, we feel like we can take on the world and do anything.  

In most cases when that happens, we tend to say yes to anything we can be involved in, and everything that is asked of us. While this is noble in man’s eyes, we must learn to be mindful that just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should. Now what I am NOT saying is that we shouldn’t be a part of things, we shouldn’t help where it is needed, and instead we should all just wait for someone else to step in and help do what needs to be done.  

However, what I am saying is that we should always have the sensitivity to seek the face of the Lord and what it is that He is calling us to, what He desires for us to do, and how He wants us to go about it. But if we get caught in the cycle of being busy, we can take off running in a direction without ever stopping to seek Him and end up in a place He never intended for us to be. So what is it about busyness that appeals to us? It gives the appearance of a successful life.  

What if I told you that busyness is a counterfeit? What if I told you that busyness is our attempt to make our lives look the way we want them to? We are called to live lives of meaning and intention as we seek God, yield to His ways and plans, and walk them out accordingly.  

While busyness can give the appearance of that, a life void of meaning and intention will bear little or even no fruit. Busyness is lots of movement, lots of things in motion, with little progress to show for it. Living with meaning and intention brings about a life that bears fruit and is on a constant upward trajectory.  

So what is the difference between these two very different lifestyles? What is the thing that separates them? Properly placed trust. If we don’t trust God, then we will always take over and try to make things go the way we think they should go. But if we do trust God, we know He has the best plans, He knows the best way for them to be walked out, and He will show us the way to go. Even if it doesn’t look like we think it should, even if it feels uncomfortable, we know that He holds the power and the ability to make His plans come to pass, our part is being obedient.  

Lean into your Father’s plans, lean into the things He has been speaking to you, and trust Him. Whatever it is He is telling you to do, do it. If He is saying go, then go. If He is saying rest, then rest (rest is not a reward you receive for getting lots of things done, rest is to sustain us physically as we live the life we are called to live). Remember, He will always provide what you need to do what it is that He is calling you to do.  

So let go of the busyness that seeks to keep you distracted, it is nothing more than the empty counterfeit, and grab hold of meaning and intention as you seek God’s face and allow Him to lead you into the life He created you for!

Be blessed!!