Texts, appointments, meetings, soccer games, scrolling to get “caught up”, more meetings, more texts, phone calls, social media notifications, and even more soccer games—they all seem to be knocking at your door, begging for your attention. We all confess that we are busy. But is there a solution? Is there an end in sight? Could the busyness ever stop?
Think back to when you were ten years old and had nothing to do. Those were the glory days, weren’t they? Now our calendars are packed, our minds are overwhelmed, and our responses often reveal our frustration at the pace of life. We find ourselves either running on empty or simply running in circles.
Two stories from the Bible help us see what it means to walk in a gospel-worthy way with our time. In Luke 10:38-42, when Jesus visited Mary and Martha, Mary sat at his feet, taking it all in, while Martha busied herself with preparations for the feast. Eventually, Martha reached her breaking point and asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. His response was striking: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things…”. Martha’s busyness with “good” things actually caused her to miss the best thing—Jesus himself. Mary had chosen the portion that would truly last.
A couple of chapters earlier, in Luke 8:22-25, the disciples were crossing the lake with Jesus when a violent storm arose. It was so intense that even the experienced fishermen woke Him, convinced they were perishing. Jesus got up, calmed the storm, and asked, “Where is your faith?” The storm raged, chaos swirled, yet Jesus was at rest because he had complete faith in the Father and his plan.
Could it be that our calendars reveal whether we walk in a gospel-worthy way? Do they show that we rest in God’s will, or that we’re too busy—even with good things—to sit at his feet? We often ask how we can slow down, but have you ever asked this: Why didn’t Jesus do more? Why did He walk instead of rushing from place to place? What if gospel living is less about getting earthly things done and more about focusing on Christ and heavenly things?
As you consider your time, remember these five truths:
- Because of the gospel, you will live forever with the Lord—the one you should treasure daily. Let eternity shape your planning.
- The gospel is not works-based, and grace frees you from comparison. You don’t need to keep up with neighbors—God has called you to holiness, not to impress.
- God is the Lord of time, and he wrote your days before the foundation of the world. What you are meant to accomplish will be done, and what is not will remain undone—or be given to someone else He has appointed.
- Jesus modeled purposeful, unhurried ministry. In three years, He never rushed, never made another person’s emergency His emergency, and never chased a large platform. He glorified the Father with the opportunities in front of Him, while keeping time for prayer and Sabbath rest.
- For Parents: It is eternally more important for your children to see the gospel lived out and taught in your home than to experience every activity their friends enjoy.
If our Lord and Savior did not hurry, isn’t that worth considering? The gospel calls us to trust the God who orders our days, to treasure Christ above the checklist, and to walk in step with the Spirit rather than the demands of the crowd. May your calendar reflect your faith. May your rest reflect your trust. And may your time be used in a way that is truly worthy of the gospel.
Some thoughts on where and how to begin evaluating your time:
The earlier you start this practice, the better. As life moves forward, responsibilities grow along with opportunities. High school students head to college, college students enter the workforce, many get married, and some begin raising children. The sooner you set a foundation for monitoring your time, the easier it will be to navigate the important (and distracting) demands that come later.
Your phone already has a built-in app that tracks your usage. It separates social media from other apps and gives you a clear picture of how much time you’re spending. Within the app, you can set up a daily or weekly review. Make time to set this up and honestly ask yourself: How much time am I spending on social media? How much time does my favorite game take out of my day or week? You may not track this forever, but checking in regularly will give you a helpful picture.
A second step is to consider your day as a whole. After the kids are in bed, look back and write down what you did today. When did you get up? What did you do first? Did you read your Bible and pray? Include the small but real blocks of time, such as that phone call to your parents, the commute to work, or the errands you ran. Don’t forget the hidden costs of activities: how much time you spend not just at kids’ practices and games, but also washing uniforms, finding gear, and driving to and from the field. How much time is spent serving outside your home? How much time do you spend working from home? Did you rest? Document these things for two weeks, and you’ll see a picture of what your life, and your family’s life, really looks like.
May your calendar reflect your faith. May your rest reflect your trust. And may your time be used in a way that is truly worthy of the gospel.