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Following Jesus at the Pace of Your Life
By Rev. Justin Wyckoff
One of the quiet enemies of spiritual growth for many of us is not open unbelief. It is the pace we keep. Our days are packed with work, commuting, kid activities, house projects, social media, and a constant stream of notifications. By the time we fall into bed, we are exhausted. There is very little space left in our minds or schedules for unhurried time with God.
Yet Jesus invites us, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He does not say, “Come to Me after you finish everything on your list.” He speaks directly to weary, overloaded people and offers a different way of living. Following Jesus is not meant to be one more stressful thing you try to squeeze into an already frantic life. It is meant to reshape how you live all of life.
Living at a Jesus-shaped pace begins with recognizing your limits. You are not infinite. You cannot be everywhere, do everything, and please everyone. When we try to say yes to everything, we often reveal that we believe we are more necessary than we really are. It is a subtle form of pride. Trusting God means admitting, “I have limits. You do not. I will rest and leave the world in Your hands.”
One helpful tool is something Christians throughout history have called a “rule of life.” That phrase can sound rigid, but it simply means intentional rhythms that help you stay rooted in Christ. It might include daily practices such as Scripture reading and prayer, weekly practices such as gathered worship and Sabbath rest, and regular times of deeper reflection or retreat. These are not about earning God’s love. They are about making space to enjoy the love you already have in Christ.
You can begin very simply. If your mornings are chaotic, you might carve out ten minutes before anyone else is awake to read a psalm and pray. You might decide that the first voice you hear each day will be God’s, not your phone. At another time, you might walk around your neighborhood and turn that walk into a time of conversation with the Lord about the day ahead.
Learning to follow Jesus at a sane pace also means looking at your calendar with Him. You can pray through your schedule for the week. Ask, “Lord, what have I said yes to that You did not ask me to do?” Some activities may be clearly good but not for this season. You
may realize that you need to say no to some things in order to say a deeper yes to God, to your family, and to the mission He has given you.
This is not about withdrawing from the world. It is about being present in the world with a heart that is not constantly running on empty. A hurried soul has trouble listening to the Spirit, noticing people who are hurting, or hearing God’s gentle direction. A soul that regularly rests in Christ is more available to be used by Him in small but significant ways.
At The Crossings, I do not want ministry to feel like one more heavy burden on your shoulders. My desire is that we would learn together what it means to walk with Jesus at the actual pace of our real lives, trusting that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. |
