Slowing Down Enough To Be Productive

Slow Down Enough to Be Productive

Have you ever encountered a question that prompts deep reflection? This past Sunday, my pastor preached a sermon on rest that did just that. As I contemplated his message, Pastor Millioni challenged us with a question I want to explore further: What are you striving for?

When you read this question, does it spark anxiety about your endless to-do list? The question is designed to make us pause and consider what we’re doing and why we’re caught up in the hustle and bustle.

This question shifts our focus to our end goals. Your goal must be more than a hefty retirement account or accumulating more possessions. Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:8:

“For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Two key points emerge from this verse:

1.      Jesus is Lord.

2.      He is Lord even over the Sabbath.

This combination enables rest seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Here’s the core idea that changes everything: Jesus is Lord, and He grants you Sabbath rest. Before I expand on rest, let me clarify what this verse does not mean. While it doesn’t explicitly exclude it, rest here is more than lounging in a recliner watching your favorite TV rerun.

The definition of rest in this context is all-encompassing, touching every area of our lives. If Christ is our rest (Sabbath) and lives in us through the Holy Spirit, we have access to rest every moment of every day.

One of my daughters, reflecting on the sermon, said, “I don’t feel like I’m resting very well when I’m doing all my school assignments.” I told her she needed a slight perspective shift, which leads to my first point.

1. Rest Has Two Primary Principles

Rest is rooted in two principles—one positive, one negative—and they must be applied in order.

The first principle is positive: rest comes from trusting in what Jesus has done. Because He is the Lord of the Sabbath and sovereign over all that exists or will exist, our rest is unshakable when placed in Him. We must trust in what Jesus accomplished on the cross to bring us peace.

The second principle is negative: we cannot trust in our own efforts to please God. This is where the burdens of life weigh us down. For some, like my daughter with her schoolwork, this perspective shift is challenging. However, when we rethink the source of our rest and the motivations behind our daily actions, it transforms our outlook on life.

2. Slowing Down to Be Truly Productive

If your life feels like one endless to-do list after another, you need a perspective shift. You need to slow down to be truly productive. I know it sounds like an oxymoron—slow down and truly productive seem like archenemies of joy—but they’re not. Let me explain.

When you slow down to see that the purpose of life is a relationship with the God of peace, it revolutionizes everything—from how you shop for groceries to how you handle difficult coworkers, grumpy bosses, complex parenting issues, or overbearing family members. Slowing down reveals the need for true peace, enabling you to become peacefully productive.

Consider John 16:33:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

No matter how complex or challenging a situation is, we can have unshakable peace if we understand who we are in Christ. We’ll need to remind ourselves of this truth to remain peacefully productive, as I mentioned earlier.

The to-do list doesn’t disappear, but our perspective and motivation for tackling it have shifted. Tasks are now done in the peace of Christ, with purpose. This shift may reorder your priorities and refocus your life, but that’s not a bad thing. Your productivity will soar because your actions now have eternal purpose and meaning through Jesus. No more wasting hours doom-scrolling on social media—yes!

In summary, true rest comes from trusting Jesus, the author of peace, rather than relying on your efforts to earn God’s approval. When you embrace Christ’s peace, you can slow down enough to be truly productive. But first, let Pastor Millioni’s question pierce your heart: What are you striving for? Take time to work through the application questions below. Next month, I’ll explore how to enjoy the goodness of God in your life. Until then, go out and share the gospel to see lives transformed.

Application Questions

1.      What are you striving for? (List the top five things you’re pursuing in life. Do they align with what the Bible deems meaningful and purposeful?)

2.      What is holding you back from resting in Christ?

3.      What items on your daily schedule feel so overwhelming that they paralyze you mentally?

4.      If you’re a Christian, how could resting in Christ change your perspective on your daily to-do list? (Read John 16:33.)