When Slowing Down is the Only Option
- darlinglittlelife
- Mar 24, 2020
- 2 min read
Going into 2020, my focus was on slow growth and embracing less, an “anti-hustle” mindset. Little did I know that we would be facing a “forced slow” as pandemic swept swiftly into the world.
It’s been humbling to see how this crisis has revealed areas of my heart that don’t reflect Christ. But God does some of His deepest character molding work when our hearts are still enough to receive Him. If we let it, chaos, anxiety, and uncertainty will crowd in, even as the busy activity of normal life slows.
When the crutch of “busyness” is stripped away from us, we’re forced to come face to face with the reality of the atmosphere in our homes and in our hearts.
And so we’ve been faced with a choice. We can let our hearts be ruled by these tough circumstances and cling to just surviving the days. Or we can immerse ourselves fully into this unique season at home.
It’s hard, holy, soul shaping work to lean into these forced moments of slow.
Because we often stress and struggle over what is temporary and get lazy about the eternal. So we must ask: Are my efforts building up His kingdom, or mine?
What if we shift our perspective from accepting this forced slow down to intentionally rejoicing in it?
That bending low to pick up the same toy day after day is a chance to posture your heart towards bending low in joyful humility.
That heart wrenching fear as you send your husband off to his essential workplace in the midst of such scary conditions is a reminder to pray without ceasing.
That homeschool work that you never thought you’d find yourself leading is an opportunity to vulnerably connect with your child as you learn together.
the wearying and unending burden of financial struggle and uncertainty is a chance to step out in faith and see how God can provide in His timing.
Slow growth requires death to self, the surrender of our will, and the letting go of our expectations.
It’s the painfully small, necessary steps towards Christlikeness. It hurts. it’s hard. and it is good.
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
So I’m praying that I would increase and abound in love for my family as we slow down together. And I’m praying that God would use these days to shape me in holiness- to be more like Him. Join me?
Special thank you to Rachel Joy Photo for these beautiful photos. I will treasure them dearly.
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