‘I’m Late, I’m Late
for a very important date,
No time to say hello, goodbye,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late
and when I wave,
I lose the time I save.’
White Rabbit’s song – “Alice in Wonderland.”
Lyrics: Bob Hilliard
Most Christians living in the western world probably can identify with the above lyrics. Every moment of their day is crammed full of commitments and responsibilities. They are caught up in a whirlwind of activities; running from one engagement to the next. They feel there are not enough hours in the day, not enough days in the week, and not enough months in the year to do all they feel obliged to do.
Work responsibilities, family obligations, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, caring for elderly parents, and squeezing in a few minutes of exercise each day leaves little time for rest and emotional, spiritual, and physical rejuvenation. Fatigue is a constant companion, and yet they toss and turn at night, worrying about all the things on their ‘to-do’ list. Guilt and a sense of failure weigh heavily on their shoulders. They feel they let their friends, family, and employers down.
Self-condemnation overwhelms them as they struggle to keep a daily devotional time with the Lord. They can’t remember the last time that they stayed present in ‘the present moment’ because their minds are racing ahead to the next task on their schedule.
Such Christians feel isolated. Although co-workers, family and friends surround them, it’s challenging to find heart-to-heart connections. Like the White Rabbit, they barely can afford the time to wave briefly to those they love, They desperately try to keep one-step ahead of their tormentors – “I should be doing more” and “I’ll never get it done on time.”
God never intended that his children be exhausted and frustrated at the end of the day. It is not His will that they deprive themselves of meaningful fellowship with Him and with those around them. The Lord created us to live in freedom and not in bondage to our day-planners, smartphones, and emails.
I am not an efficiency expert. I won’t presume to offer advice on how to organise your life and declutter your schedule. However, I can direct you to the one who boldly proclaims. “Come unto me, all ye that are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.”
I love Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of this familiar passage found in Matthew 11: 28-30 (The Message). “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me, and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Psalm 31:14-15 (The Message) – “Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! Hour by hour I place my days in your hand,
safe from the hands out to get me.”
Personal Application
Pray with me!
Lord, we are bogged down, and we can’t find any way out. There are so many things that we think we should be doing and so many desires and dreams we are trying to attain. We place our days before you, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second. We give you our plans, responsibilities, and commitments to You.
Lord, help us prioritise our days. We need Your grace to lay at your feet all those things that we deem as good things to do. We declare that you are a practical God and we believe You will offer us practical solutions, We repent of not stopping long enough to listen to Your wise counsel. We stand in readiness to heed Your directives. Give us ears that humbly listen and give us feet that are swift to walk down the paths You set before us. Amen
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Until Next Week
©2018 Katherine Walden
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