When Life Won’t Slow Down

When life won’t slow down, even the best tools, like digital calendars and apps, can become constant reminders of how overwhelmed we really are. This article shares a personal reflection on busyness, the biblical story of Martha and Mary, and how we can reclaim peace and spiritual renewal by choosing what matters most: time at the feet of Jesus.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:38–41 NKJV)

Organizing Our Lives

A couple of weeks ago, my wife ordered one of those digital calendars for our house. It’s one of those sleek devices that syncs everyone’s schedules in real time. Everyone in our house has its app on their phone, and there’s also a central hub in our kitchen.

It’s really a handy device and helps us keep track of what’s going on in our increasingly busy lives. At first, it felt like a blessing. That is until it became something else—a constant reminder of how hectic our lives had become.

One morning, I checked the calendar to see what was happening that week. What I saw caused great anxiety. Between all the rehearsals, practices, meetings, church events, trips, and appointments, not to mention an ever-growing list of work deadlines, I was overwhelmed.

It felt like life wasn’t slowing down, and I was running on fumes. It was as if life had hit the accelerator, and we were all being dragged behind it.

I realized while reviewing the calendar that we had left very little time (and on some days, none) to just sit back, relax, and breathe.

Busyness Isn’t Always Fruitfulness

While our schedules might have been filled with a lot of important things, were they necessarily the best use of our time? There is nothing sinful or wrong with our commitments, but are these “good” things what God is calling us to focus on? Or are they distractions, pulling us away from more important things, like spending time with God or our loved ones, or simply resting?

Just because something may seem important or urgent to us doesn’t mean it’s important in the eyes of God. It echoes Jesus’ words to Martha in Luke 10:41–42 where He tells her to slow down and not focus on trivial matters:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

In this biblical story, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to Him. She is still, present, and attentive to what He is saying. On the other hand, Martha is consumed by her busyness, distracted by her preparations and serving.

While Martha was busy preparing things for Jesus, Mary spent her time with Him. She chose intimacy over activity, presence over performance, and devotion over distraction. Martha, although attending to Jesus’ needs, missed out on the peace and joy found in simply being near Him.

When Martha asked Jesus why He was okay with Mary doing nothing, He gently reminded her that just because something is urgent doesn’t mean it’s important to God. In this moment, time spent with Him was far more important than serving Him. And Jesus helped her realign her priorities.

We Miss Jesus in the Rush

When we’re so caught up with everything that’s going on in our lives, we easily get distracted from spending time with Jesus, just like Martha did. So many people are used to living their lives constantly on the go that we risk missing out on what really matters: listening to His voice, embracing His peace, and enjoying being in His presence.

Our spiritual attention drifts when we don’t take the time to step back and slow down. Unfortunately, God becomes nothing more than background noise.

We must learn to take intentional pauses. Every day, we should take time to sit at Jesus’ feet like Mary did. By setting aside even a few quiet moments to pray, read Scripture, or simply be still, we can realign our hearts and refocus on God. Although it’s becoming increasingly difficult to do, slowing down isn’t just a luxury; it’s a spiritual necessity.

Slowing Down to Sit at Jesus’ Feet

Many people see nothing wrong with Martha’s desire to serve and prepare everything for Jesus. But He made it clear He preferred her to be like Mary in that moment—resting and spending time with Him.

And Jesus wants us to be more like Mary, to slow down and sit at His feet. He doesn’t always want us to serve Him, but He always wants us to make time and spend time with Him. Here are seven things you can do daily to spend more time with Jesus while you sit at His feet.

1. 1. Spend quiet time in prayer.
   2. Read and reflect on Scripture.
   3. Worship without distraction.
   4. Practice stillness and solitude.
   5. Journal your thoughts and prayers.
   6. Leave space for what matters most.
   7. Set aside one day to rest and be with God.

When life refuses to slow down, our calendars become more than just tools; they become mirrors reflecting what we’ve prioritized. In the busyness of our lives, it’s easy to end up like Martha: overwhelmed and missing what matters most. But Jesus gently reminds us that the one thing we truly need is time with Him. So, instead of letting our overloaded schedules define us, we must always remember to intentionally create space and time to rest, refocus, and sit at His feet. That’s where peace is found, and where our souls are renewed.

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