Breaking Free from the Hurry Trap
The holidays have a way of revealing something about us that we might not notice during the rest of the year. Whether it’s last-minute Christmas card preparations, wrapping gifts the night before traveling, or frantically preparing for family gatherings, the season often brings out what we might call “holiday tensions” disguised as traditions.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the hurry we experience during holidays isn’t really seasonal at all. For many of us, hurry has become our default way of living.
Why Hurry is the Enemy of Spiritual Growth
Dallas Willard once said, “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” This might sound extreme, but there’s profound wisdom in recognizing how hurry affects our relationship with God.
While hurry can be appropriate in emergencies or moments of crisis, life was never meant to be lived in a constant state of urgency or crisis. Our daily existence wasn’t designed to be lived on edge, always rushing and worrying about the endless list of things we need to accomplish.
How to Know If You’re Living in Hurry
Sometimes we don’t realize how much hurry has infiltrated our lives. Here are some signs that hurry might be controlling you:
- You always choose the shortest grocery line or fastest delivery option
- You constantly switch lanes in traffic to save a few minutes
- You listen to podcasts and audiobooks on 2x speed or higher
- You’re frequently irritable over minor inconveniences
- You struggle to rest without feeling bored or restless
- You work excessive overtime, leaving family and friends with the exhausted version of yourself
- You isolate yourself because you’re too drained for social interaction
- You choose activities that steal energy rather than restore it
The Story of Two Sisters: Martha and Mary
The Bible gives us a perfect picture of this struggle in the story of Martha and Mary. When Jesus and his followers came to stay at Martha’s house, we see two very different responses.
Martha had the gift of hospitality. She was the type of person who made sure everything was perfect when guests arrived. But as she worked frantically to prepare everything, she became frustrated watching her sister Mary simply sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to him teach.
When Service Becomes Hurried
Martha’s frustration reached a breaking point when she said to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40).
Notice what happened here: Martha’s spirit of service had become one of hurry. She was so focused on doing everything perfectly that she missed the opportunity to actually be with Jesus. Her misery was threatening to ruin the experience for everyone else.
Jesus’ Response: Choose What’s Better
Jesus’ response is telling: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
Jesus wasn’t criticizing Martha’s service, but rather the spirit in which she was serving. He was pointing out that she was worried about many things when really only one thing was necessary.
Anything Worth Doing is Worth Doing Simply
We’ve all heard the saying, “Anything worth doing is worth doing right.” But Jesus seems to be suggesting something different: anything worth doing is worth doing simply.
Jesus was essentially telling Martha: “You have twelve casseroles, but we really just need one. Use paper plates this time—we’d rather you spend time with us. We know you went shopping all day to get this together, but really, just come be with us.”
The Purpose of Sitting at Jesus’ Feet
Sitting at the feet of Jesus isn’t just about listening to God’s word. We sit at Jesus’ feet so that when we go and serve, our service reflects his attitude and spirit. Our service should not be frantic or chaotic, but peaceful and purposeful.
Learning from Jesus’ Pace
Jesus was always busy, but he was never in a hurry. A Japanese theologian describes God as “a three-mile-per-hour God,” noting that Jesus traveled mostly by walking during his earthly ministry. The average human walking pace is about three miles per hour.
This raises an important question: if we’re constantly rushing around at 80 miles per hour, who is following whom? We’re called to follow Jesus, but if we never slow down to his pace, how can we expect to be transformed?
Breaking Free from “If Then” Thinking
Many of us live with what we might call “if thens”—those beautiful lies we tell ourselves about when life will get better:
- “If I can just get through this month, then…”
- “If I can work a little more overtime, then…”
- “If I can make it until the baby comes, then…”
- “If I can get my kid through college, then…”
The truth is, there will always be another “if then” waiting. Life will always be busy, but we can choose whether or not to live in hurry.
Life Application
As we approach a new year, the question isn’t whether we’ll be busy. We will be. The question is: how will we choose to sit at the feet of Jesus, knowing that doing so will change the spirit in which we serve?
Here’s a simple challenge for this week: choose one small way to slow down and practice it every day for seven days. You might:
- Choose to stay in the longer traffic lane instead of constantly switching
- Put your phone away when you’re in public and simply observe your surroundings
- Take a short walk outside when you feel stressed or bored
- Remind yourself that you don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders
Remember, we can’t eliminate busyness from our lives, but we can work to eliminate hurry. Jesus was always busy, but he was never in a hurry.
Questions for Reflection:
- In what areas of your life do you find yourself constantly hurrying?
- How might your service to others change if you approached it with Jesus’ unhurried spirit?
- What “if then” statements are you holding onto that keep you from being present today?
- What would it look like for you to follow Jesus at his three-mile-per-hour pace this week?