By: John Gamades
When I ask men how they’re doing, I hear the same response over and over again. “Busy. I’m so busy.”
Busy has become a badge of honor, and pushing has become a way of life. There’s always one more thing to do, one more fire to put out, one more ball to juggle. The result? Every day, we become more like a frayed rope, pulled in two directions and beginning to come apart in the middle.
God’s been nudging me on this. Slowing down to walk with Him (and not running out ahead of Him) is one of those things He’s working on in me. It’s been challenging…
I’ve got routines. To start my mornings, I’m in the Word, I pray, and reflect. I start grounded, but as the day unfolds, I drift. The noise creeps in, and the world demands more. Like many of you, at home I’m a husband and a dad. At work, I’m a leader and an owner. Layered on top of that, I have an aging mom, siblings, and a circle of friends that I care about deeply. Each role comes with its own pressures, and before long, I find myself back out ahead of God instead of walking with Him.
Add to that a deluge of distractions. They’re everywhere. Facebook. ESPN. Fox News. YouTube. Netflix. Amazon. Then, there’s the constant grind of work, the comparison trap, and maybe worst of all, overcommitment. I don’t say “no” enough, and saying “yes” to everything pulls me off course.
They call it “paying attention” for a reason. There’s a cost when you give all your attention to all of the distractions. One pastor put it bluntly: “Satan doesn’t have to drag you to hell… he just needs to distract you from Heaven.” That’s what he does best. Satan keeps us busy, distracted, and running ahead of God instead of alongside Him.
God’s Gift of Rest
Stay distracted long enough, and I’ve learned that God will get your attention. Sometimes, He uses hardship to slow us down. I’m not saying He causes it, but I know from personal experience that He can certainly use it. He’s been nudging me in this area, and lately, God’s been teaching me about Sabbath. He took me back to the scriptures…
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.” – Genesis 2:2–3 (NIV)
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy… Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” – Exodus 20:8–11 (NIV)
These verses got me thinking and asking this question: If God rested, and He commands us to do the same, then why do I resist it?
I decided to do something about this resistance, and I’ve been trying to practice Sabbath. It’s harder than I expected, which has been a powerful sign. I run a business and serve as a leader. Just like most of you reading this, there’s always one more thing to be done. For years, Sunday was my day to prep for Monday. When I stopped working and tried this Sabbath concept on for size, I felt like an addict detoxing. The work never left my mind, and I was constantly drawn to grab my laptop and get something done. Anything. That’s when I realized… I had a problem.
You may be thinking, like I did, “Sunday is my only day to catch up. You have no idea how busy I am.” I get it. Weeks into the process, though, here’s what I’ve found: God is faithful and He redeems the time. The work still gets done, and in the process, I’m learning to walk with Him instead of running ahead.
Bigger than that, I’m learning to trust… in Him, not in myself.
Don’t Wait
Men, don’t wait. Start walking more closely with God now, not tomorrow. If you’ve been running ahead, like I was, adjust your pace. Step back, and let Him lead. He’s right there, waiting for you to walk with Him.