The Busy Trap

I almost laughed when I signed up to write about busyness because if there’s one thing I feel most days, it’s busy. Between accelerated classes, a master’s thesis, and full-time teaching, I’m constantly rushing from one task to the next, always trying to be productive and never feeling like there’s enough time. But that’s exactly why I need this reminder: to step out of the trap and into God’s rhythm of rest and creativity.  

From the very beginning, God modeled a rhythm of work and rest. He created the world in six days, and on the seventh, He rested (Genesis 2:2–3). He didn’t rest because He was tired, but because rest is part of His design. Rest was woven into creation itself, and we ignore it at our own expense. 

Jesus echoes this when He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He never promised us endless productivity. He promised us rest for our souls. 

And in Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and trust that all the other things will fall into place. That doesn’t mean ignoring responsibilities, but it does mean realigning our priorities. Productivity isn’t bad, but it isn’t ultimate. True fruitfulness flows from abiding in Him. 

Busyness is a Thief 

We see this in the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy, “…distracted with much serving,” while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened (Luke 10:38–42). Jesus gently told Martha that Mary had chosen the better thing. 

That story reminds me that busyness, even when it looks like service, can distract me from what matters most: being present with Him. Martha’s service wasn’t sinful. In fact, it looked helpful. But it kept her from slowing down and being still. Isn’t that just like us? Our schedules may be full of good things, but even good things can crowd out the best thing. Jesus’ words to Martha echo into our own lives: don’t let busyness rob you of the better portion. 

And yet, if we’re honest, most of us live more like Martha than Mary. Our culture glorifies hustle. Social media celebrates the person who’s building a business, raising perfect kids, keeping a spotless home, training for a marathon, and somehow still cooking dinner from scratch. Beyond social media, our everyday world hums with distractions: buzzing phones and emails that spill into evenings and weekends. In a world that never slows down, rest looks like laziness and slowing down feels like failure. 

I’ll be the first to admit my schedule is overflowing, and some days it feels like if I just get through enough tasks, maybe then I’ll feel accomplished. But here’s the trap: my list never ends. And when I measure my worth by how much I check off, I end up tired, distracted, and often discouraged. 

Finding Space for Rest 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss, in Lies Women Believe (1), describes how misplaced priorities often stem from a lie: the belief that we can and should do it all. Even though her book is written for women, I think that lie is universal. Men and women alike get caught in the cycle of busyness, trying to prove ourselves through productivity. 

And I’ve realized something sobering: every time I rush through my day without spending time with God, I’m essentially saying, “I can handle this day by myself.” That’s not just busyness. That’s pride disguised as productivity. 

But I’ve also seen the opposite. When I pause to spend time with God, the rest of my day shifts. Jesus’ words in John 15:5 come alive: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” Somehow, the hours stretch farther. Tasks that once felt overwhelming move with greater ease. It isn’t that God adds more hours, but He makes the ones I have more fruitful.  

When I stop chasing my own endless list and start asking what’s on God’s list, something surprising happens: there’s almost always space for rest. God’s to-do list isn’t about running me into the ground. It’s about shaping me into someone who abides in Him. 

Rest doesn’t mean doing nothing. Rest is fertile ground where creativity, joy, and renewal can grow. When I allow myself to pause (to read, to write, to walk, to simply breathe), I’m reminded that being made in the image of the Creator means I’m invited not just to work, but also to create beauty and goodness with Him. 

Some of my most meaningful ideas as a teacher and a writer didn’t come when I was rushing from one task to another. They came when I slowed down enough to notice, to reflect, to create. I’ve had moments where I was stuck in my lesson planning, but after taking a quiet walk, fresh clarity came. Other times, I couldn’t find words for my writing, but after resting, ideas flowed again. In other words, rest isn’t wasted time. It’s part of my calling as His co-creator. 

Breaking free from the busy trap doesn’t always mean a complete overhaul of life. Most of us can’t quit our jobs or put responsibilities on hold. But we can invite God into the way we order our days. 

Re-center each morning. Before I touch my phone, I’m learning to ask, “Lord, what’s on Your list for me today?” Sometimes His answer looks like something small: a conversation with a student, an act of kindness, or even a moment of stillness. Beginning the day by focusing on His priorities helps me step into my tasks with peace instead of panic. 

Practice Sabbath rhythms. I may not always manage a full day, but I can carve out intentional time for worship, prayer, and rest. Sabbath isn’t about rules. It’s about trust. When I stop working, I’m reminding myself that God holds the world together, not me. 

Create from rest. Whether it’s writing, cooking, music, or even problem-solving, creativity flows best from a heart that isn’t hurried. These aren’t “extra” hobbies. They’re ways of reflecting God’s image as a Maker. And often, it’s in those quiet, creative moments that I sense His presence most clearly. 

Learn the holy “no.” Every “yes” carries a cost. Saying no without guilt is sometimes the most faithful choice because it makes room for God’s priorities rather than everyone else’s demands. Learning to say no isn’t about selfishness. It’s about stewardship. We only have so much time and energy, and we’re called to use both wisely. 

Celebrate small pauses. A walk outside, a few pages in a book, or silence before bed may seem insignificant, but these tiny pauses re-tune the soul. They remind us we are more than our productivity. A five-minute pause with God can sometimes change the tone of my whole day. 

The Bravest Act of Faith is Slowing Down 

I won’t pretend I have this figured out. My calendar is packed and the busy trap is real. I fall into it often. But I’m learning that God never asked me to do it all. He asked me to seek Him first. And every time I do, I find that He takes the little bit of time I offer and multiplies its impact. The hours don’t get longer, but they bear more fruit. That’s the miracle of abiding: God makes more of my time than I could make of it myself. 

And to be honest, even as I type this post, I feel like I have a million other things waiting on my list. But God told me to do this first. And the only reason I heard His voice was because I stopped long enough to listen. In this moment, I’m walking in His priorities rather than my own. 

Maybe the bravest act of faith isn’t pushing harder. Maybe it’s slowing down—choosing Sabbath over striving, choosing God’s to-do list over mine, and trusting that the Creator who spoke the world into being is still holding it all together, even when I stop. 

So let me ask you: where has busyness been running your life instead of God? What would change if you paused long enough to ask Him what’s really on His list for your day? This week, I challenge you to stop in the middle of your busy trap, listen for His voice, and take one step toward His priorities rather than your own. 

Sources: 

1. Nancy Leigh Demoss, Lies Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free (Moody Publishers, 2001).