Slaughtering the Sacred Cow of Busyness

Kathy Howard—writer of Bible studies, speaker, wife and mom. She “gets” 24/7 life.

“We’re up before the sun, pound the pavement or keyboard all day, then spend the after-work hours doing housework or homework, cheering at ballgames, and volunteering,” Kathy says. “We’re crazy busy and proud of it.”

OK … she’s gone to meddling. But I love Kathy for her gut-level honesty, so I have to listen.

She continues …

Our culture values busyness. We tend to see a “busy” person as in demand, talented, and indispensable. “Busy” is good. Downtime is bad.

The Danger of Busy

So what’s wrong with “busy?” Everybody’s doing it.

Our society encourages us to push the limits of our time, resources, and physical ability in order to do more, make more, and be more. Often, these limit-busters are positive, beneficial activities.

But over-pursuing has a price. We’re too busy for unhurried conversation with our families. Too busy for physical rest. Too busy to foster relationships.

The greatest danger of “busy” is little room remains for God. No time to soak in His presence or seek His guidance or respond when He calls. No time to develop deep intimacy with the only One who can meet our every need.

Dethrone the Idol of Busyness

I’m not saying we should shred our calendars. God’s plan for us includes good works. But God also knows our limits. If we don’t have time to rest, renew, or relate, then we’re too busy!

God desires our lives to be “full,” not busy. “Busy” is packed with activity – some purposed by God, but a lot purposed strictly by us. “Full” describes a life filled up with the plans, purposes, and peace of God. Relationships, service, good works, and time characterize a “full” life. Time to focus on things that matter for eternity.

I challenge you to tackle something that could change your life. Use the following prompts to evaluate the way you spend your time. The goal is to transform your “busy” life into a “full” life.

1. Start with prayer - Ask for God’s guidance to bring your life in line with His best.
2. Involve your family – Explain what you’re doing and why. Sit down together and prayerfully consider your family’s commitments, including church activities.
3. Make a thorough list - Include any activities you and your family do on a regular basis.
4. Wait - Let it sit for a few days. Ask God to show you what things are from Him and what aren’t.
5. Discover your place of service - God does have a place of service for you in your church. Ask Him where He wants you.
6. Make cuts - Cut out involvement as God directs. Unless God says otherwise, fulfill any existing short-term commitments.
7. Set limits - Set limits on your children’s activities too. Teach them now how to live life at God’s pace, with plenty of room for Him.

Now make a fresh commitment to your relationship with God. Regular time with Jesus will help you leave “busy” behind and fall headlong into the full, abundant life He promised!

Would you describe your life as “busy” or “full?” What activity takes up the most time?

Kathy Howard helps women live an unshakeable faith for life by encouraging them to stand firm on our rock-solid God no matter the circumstances of life. Kathy, who has been teaching the Bible for over 25 years, is the author of five books. Her most recent, Fed Up with Flat Faith, helps readers discover 10 attitudes and actions to “pump up” their faith. Find out about her books and speaking ministry and get discipleship tools and leader helps at her website: www.kathyhoward.org.

Is God Still Good When ...

Kathy Howard is a Bible study writer extraordinaire—I love her studies—but in this UPGRADE post, Kathy tackles a tough topic.

“I often hear other Christians say, “God is good!” she writes. “I heard it when the life of a sick child was spared. And when a biopsy returned benign. And when a job in jeopardy was saved. And when a rebellious teen turned back to God.

“But what about when the child dies or it comes back ‘cancer’ or the job is lost or the teenager never returns? Is God good then?” 

I’m so glad Kathy is addressing this. These are questions those who don’t know Christ like to throw up to Christians. “If your God is so good,” they say, “then why did He allow ….” 

Kathy continues … 

Yes. God is good all the time. The Bible says so. God cannot be good one moment and not the next. He cannot be good in one situation and not another. 

A Facebook post I read not long ago caused me to reflect on this truth. The FB friend wrote, “God is good!” And then she detailed all the recent positive happenings in her life as the proof. 

This really troubled me. See, we flawed humans tend to declare God’s goodness only when things turn out the way we hope they will. This implies that we believe God is good because our circumstances are easy. But what if our circumstances are hard? Does that mean God is not good? Or that He is good only to those who don’t have trouble and difficulty? 

Our circumstances do not dictate or define God’s goodness. God’s character dictates His goodness. God is good all the time. No matter the circumstances.

So what does this truth mean for us today? Here are a few truths from Scripture to help us develop a correct understanding of the goodness of God:

• God’s will for our lives is good (Romans 12:2). Sometimes – in fact, often – His will includes trials and difficulty that He uses for our refinement.
• In all things, in all circumstances, our good God is working for our good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
• The assurance of God’s goodness enables us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and to declare in easy times and hard times, “God is good!”

How should these truths impact our daily lives? How should we upgrade the way we live and talk and relate to others? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Remember that God is good all the time. Not just when things are going the way we want them to.
2. Thank Him for His goodness in every life situation.
3. Be sensitive to those around you who are facing difficult and painful circumstances.
4. Declare His goodness in every circumstance, particularly in the hard times.

Upgrading our attitudes about God’s goodness can change how we approach every circumstance of life and each person we encounter. God is good, all the time!

Let’s talk. Have you ever been guilty of declaring God’s goodness only in times of ease? Forgetting His goodness in times of difficulty? What are some things we can do to remind ourselves of His goodness in every situation?

Kathy Howard helps women live an unshakeable faith for life by encouraging them to stand firm on our rock-solid God no matter the circumstances of life. The author of five books, Kathy has a Masters in Christian Education and a certificate in women’s ministry. She has been teaching the Bible for over 25 years and speaks regularly at women’s retreats and events. Find out about her books and speaking ministry and get discipleship tools and leader helps at her website: www.kathyhoward.org.