Life is Just Too Busy. Isn’t It?

How would you describe your life? Busy? Chaotic? Overwhelming?

When I get caught in the organized ( I use that term loosely) chaos of my life I find it so easy to simply slip into survival mode.  Ever been there? You know how it is, that burn out state where you are constantly just trying to get to the next moment? If I can just get out of bed…if I can just get through the work day, if I can just get dinner over with, the kids to bed and so on.  Before I know it, time has slipped away and I wonder where it went.  During these times, it’s easy to let things go. And I am not talking about the dishes or the lawn mowing. I am talking about important things.

The last couple of days were prime examples of survival mode for me. Between work, kids, school functions, men’s society, then more work and kids, Cadets stuff, and Ruth and Naomi’s Mission…I got home at about 10pm Friday night and had a few emails to answer, then it was about 1130pm and the day had disappeared in a flash and I just wanted to crawl into my bed.  But I had missed my devotions…”I can do it tomorrow.” I thought to myself.  But as I was turning out the lights and getting ready for bed, I saw my bible sitting on the dinner table. “I really need to sleep…” I sighed as I picked up my Bible and began to read Romans 5.

For most of us, the first thing we let go in times of survival mode is time with God or personal devotions. Our Bible becomes little more than a book we ritualistically read at dinner time – if we even read it then.  Our bibles collect dust and our thoughts are rarely upon Him; we hardly even think of him let alone meditate on his precepts day and night.  Then, it is suddenly Sunday and we struggle to get the kids dressed to get to church on time, because we have to be there or someone might say something you know, but then after the worship service we can rest, take a nap and finally catch up.  The next thing you know, your relationship with Him consists of hardly more than a meal time prayer.  We stop having personal devotions, and then we stop going to bible studies, we stop volunteering, we stop serving in the church – because, well life is just too busy.  Isn’t it?

Time with God is so vitally important. I implore you to make time even when life is chaotic, frustrating and overwhelming.  Overwhelmed at that thought? Don’t have the time?  I get it, I really do. But, to quote a certain theologian,

“Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord.” [J.I Packer, Knowing God]

I do my devotions during the week on my lunch break, or try to.  The Christian life is not easy, but it is one of joy and peace.  In a right relationship with your redeemer you will find peace in chaos, you will find joy in the midst of suffering.  And we need to make the time.

I know some of you have confided in me similar scenarios which I have described of frustrating, overly busy, overwhelming and chaotic lives. I bet there are even more of you are living life right now in survival mode. Take some time to reflect on your life. Where your priorities are and where your relationship is with Him and all the things that flow out of that relationship.  God gives his covenant children promises.  Read them, meditate on them. Do you believe them?   Where does He truly stand in your list of priorities?  We need to meditate on his promises, on his law, we need to pray in every situation as Paul tells us in Philippians 4 and in order to have that relationship we need to make time to read his word and meditate on it.

We have to learn to schedule our lives around God, not the other way around. See your Bible over there?  Go and dust it off, open it up, and reconnect.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.