Slow down

By Donna Churchill
Last Christmas one of my granddaughters gave me a “Grandmother, I Want to Hear Your Story” workbook. It’s the kind of workbook that asks you all kinds of questions about your growing up years so your grandchildren can have a history of your life in your own words. I try to write a little in it each week. This week the question was – “Knowing all you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self?”

I was actually surprised that I didn’t have to give this a whole lot of thought. I would say - Slow down and don’t be in such a hurry to “get there.”

When I was younger, I was always in a hurry.…in a hurry to grow up….in a hurry to experience life….in a hurry to get on to the next thing. I spent many years rushing through life. I remember regretfully, how I rushed my children through their lives, too, always pushing them to hurry up! 

I used to be so impatient to wait, pretty much for anything. My husband (unfortunately for me, at the time) was just the opposite. He wasn’t slow, but he was very seldom in a hurry. I remember remarking to someone during those years that “he’s so slow, he gets in his own way.” She very wisely said to me, “No, he gets in your way!”

When my husband died, I was assured by friends that I would be okay. I knew God would take care of me and that He would see me through, but I knew that experiencing grief in the daily “A through Z” was going to be hard. I just wanted to be at Z already. I’ve spent most of my life wanting to be at Z already. I just always wanted to get there, be there. But where is there and to what benefit? Do I, would I, could I, learn anything going from A to Z without experiencing everything in between? I wanted to avoid the pain, but I know now that in doing so, there would be no growth, no sanctification, no precious moments spent with the Lord learning His ways, learning to know Him.

Now that I am in my “golden years,” I see the folly of my youth. I couldn’t change time back then, but, gosh, I sure tried.

I was thinking about this the other day. I was slowed down in traffic because of an accident and had to take a detour through a neighborhood. Surprisingly, I was in no hurry, but the car in front of me sure was. We had to wait in line to pull back into traffic and he/she kept inching forward and weaving the car back and forth to try to see what was going on up ahead. As we eventually got back into traffic on the original route, I noticed he was tailgating the car in front of him. That car appeared to be driving the speed limit, but this other guy was sure not happy about it. I started thinking about why he might be in a hurry…..maybe he was late for an appt, maybe he was late for work, maybe there was a medical emergency he was trying to get to or maybe he was just impatient and wanted to go at his own pace. I thought about how he might be feeling….anxious, angry, frustrated. I remembered feeling that way many times myself when I was in a hurry. I then noticed we were finally at a place where the car in front of him took another lane and he went flying down the road. I prayed he would get to where he needed to go without an accident or a ticket! 

I also thanked God that I am in another season of my life and am not so much in a hurry anymore…....and it feels good. Where do I have to be in such a hurry that it’s worth risking my peace, my life, the process? 

“My times are in His hand…” (Psalm 31:15a) I thanked God for the fruit that grows in the process of life that no hurry can accomplish.

One of the fruits of the Spirit is patience and I don’t think I have ever known anyone who does not struggle with that. For many years, I prayed God would work that fruit into my heart and life. I think time and the wisdom of experience and God’s grace helps that process along and I’m not sure we can learn it without the process. I don’t think I can tell someone to slow down and they would listen and comprehend. I know I didn’t, wouldn’t, maybe even couldn’t! But I am so grateful that at this point in my life, I am finally learning the wisdom of slowing down, to wait, to not be in such a hurry, to appreciate the process, to appreciate the wisdom of God working in my life.

“Don’t try to rush what God is taking time to prepare.”

I happened upon this quote last year when I was anxious about finding a new place to live. I wanted God to reveal it to me - yesterday, but He was taking His time to prepare it for me. 

God is always taking His time to prepare what needs to be prepared. Even Jesus’ birth is recorded in Scripture as, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, ……...” Galatians 4:4 

God, in His sovereignty and wisdom had planned the timing of Christ’s birth, perfecting every detail. It was the culmination of centuries of preparation and prophecy, creating ideal conditions, bringing it all to the fullness of time. This is just as He plans all events and aspects of our lives, too. There are “right time moments” for all of us in answers to prayer, provision and opportunities. Even in the smallest aspects of our lives. 

I’m so thankful God can’t be rushed! No matter how we try to “get there” before Him, we can’t. We only end up in frustration, lack of peace and out of sync with His purposes. 

On the off chance you might listen today – slow down, don’t be in such a hurry. Be patient in the process, knowing God is never early and never late!