God Invites You to Slow Down: Embracing Stillness in a Busy Season

When Summer Becomes a Sprint

Summer often feels more like a sprint than a season of rest.
Family BBQs. Caring for kids. Home projects. Getaways. All the small things on our to-do lists.

We tend to cram a lot into these few short months. But all that busyness can leave us breathless and spiritually parched—reaching for the only water that truly satisfies. Our calendars may be full, but our souls are often left empty.

Even Jesus Needed Time Away

Jesus had a full schedule, too.

Imagine the weariness He must have felt—preaching, walking for miles, and carrying the weight of God's redemptive plan on His shoulders.

Yet even the Son of God knew when to step away. Luke 5:15 tells us,
“Large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.”

Jesus, too, experienced the exhaustion that comes from constantly being with people. We are not alone in feeling the weight of busyness.

But then verse 16 tells us,
“Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.” (CSB)

It says often.
And where? Deserted places.
Other translations say lonely places or the wilderness.

Jesus knew exactly where to go to escape the noise. He knew what His soul needed. And He didn’t wait until things settled down—He retreated right in the middle of the chaos.

Create Margin to Meet with God

Here’s something important I’ve learned: running at 100 miles per hour with a jam-packed schedule leaves no room to prioritize God.

So leave margin in your day. Sit quietly. Listen carefully for His whisper. Seek Him.

God isn’t hiding—He’s waiting for you in the stillness.

Leave space for what your soul truly needs: quiet time with your Creator.

A Gentle Invitation to Be Still

I encourage you, sister, to take on Jesus’ posture of slowness, quietness, and stillness.

Leave white space.
Step away when you need to.
Let your phone rest.
Lay down your to-do list.
Breathe deeply.

And most importantly, open your Bible and see what God has for you.

A Prayer to Begin Again

God, help me examine my schedule with a discerning eye and prioritize time with You. I want to follow Jesus’ lead and intentionally seek solitude to pray. Show me the things that distract me and steal my time. Teach me to lay them all down. Grow in me a deep desire to seek You in the middle of chaos, where I can hear Your voice more clearly.

Additional Verses to Reflect On

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place; and there He was praying.” — Mark 1:35 (CSB)
“During those days, He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.” — Luke 6:12 (CSB)
“Seek, and you will find.” — Matthew 7:7 (CSB)