Christians often speak of the need for stillness and rest. But what happens when there’s calls to make, jobs to be done and everyday life to get through? Gemma Hunt says we don’t need to feel guilty. God is in it all
After dropping my nine-year-old daughter at school, something caught my eye. As I walked home from the school gates, every parent in front of me was on their phone.
At first, I found myself thinking: Why? Why not enjoy the quiet walk home? Why not savour those few precious minutes of calm after the whirlwind of getting children dressed, fed, packed and out of the door?
Then, almost as quickly, my thoughts changed. I looked at those people again, walking away from school, phones in hand, and I thought: You go guys!
Perhaps one was booking a dentist appointment. Another might have been arranging work shifts. Maybe someone was ordering groceries, checking in on an elderly parent or replying to a friend who needed encouragement.
Suddenly, I did not see distraction. I saw strength. I saw caregivers carrying an enormous mental load and using the five minutes they had available to keep all the plates spinning.
The urgent and the important
We often hear messages about slowing down, simplifying life and eliminating hurry. And that is good. I have written before about the importance of resting in God’s presence. After all, Psalm 46:10 reminds us: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Stillness matters. Rest matters. But there are also seasons when life simply requires us to get things done. There are school forms to complete, appointments to arrange, meals to prepare and people to care for. There are moments when we have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going.
We can come to Him in the middle of the mess and in the middle of our overfilled diaries
I love the words of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Sometimes that verse carries us through extraordinary challenges. Sometimes it carries us through an ordinary Friday. Because even ordinary days can feel overwhelming.
I once heard someone speak about attending to the urgent before the important. I have thought about that often. The truth is, many things in our lives are both important and urgent. That is why I love writing lists. There is something deeply comforting about getting the thoughts out of my head and onto paper, or into the Notes app on my phone. It stops those endless mental tabs from staying open.
Resting in Jesus
I do not think we were created to carry everything in our minds all the time. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Notice that He does not say: “Come to me when everything on your list is finished.” He simply says, “Come.”
We can come to Him in the middle of the mess, in the middle of the errands and in the middle of our overfilled diaries.
Sometimes making a list can even become a prayer. As I write things down, I find myself quietly saying: “Lord, this needs sorting. This person needs help. I do not know how I will fit it all in, but You do.”
There are seasons when life simply requires us to get things done
In that moment, I am relinquishing the responsibility of holding everything together. Because, in truth, I was never meant to. Neither were you. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” What a beautiful invitation.
So today, whether you are walking, texting, thinking or simply trying to make it through the day, remember this: there will be urgent things to do and important things to attend to.
Use your time wisely. Make the phone call. Write the list. Book the appointment. Check on a friend. But through it all, give it to God. Because regardless of the pace at which we are moving, He walks beside us, strengthening us, carrying what we cannot and reminding us that we never have to hold it all alone.
