Darling Little Life

Faith

Setting Aside “Hustle” for Hard, Holy Obedience

Around this time of year, with all the New Years resolutions, I see a lot of Christian and non christian’s alike posting goals alongside messages like: “work hard and see your dreams come true”, and “Live the life you’ve always wanted”.

Essentially saying: do more, work harder, and reap the benefits. Below are some examples after a quick search on Pinterest:

While there is nothing wrong with ambition, and as believers we are called to be hard workers (Col. 3:23, 2 Thess. 3:10-12) something about this “Hustle” message just never quite sat right with me.

@thegirlnamedblake recently pointed out a few red flags about buying in to the “hustle” culture:

  1. “It tells us to be the hero of our stories
  2. it’s completely self-centric
  3. it defines our worth by what we can do/accomplish/bring to the table”—@thegirlnamedblake

The “Hustle Culture” is selling subtle lies that encourage you to preach “by my strength for my success” rather than “By His Strength, for His Glory”

Because “Hustle” towards goals does not necessarily equal Holy obedience to God. Oftentimes obedience looks like slow growth rather than fast results by following some “easy no fail steps”. It’s humility behind the scenes, and it sometimes never gets recognized.

The issue is that we stress and struggle over what is temporary and get lazy about the eternal.

and so maybe the best question to ask is:

Are my efforts building up His kingdom, or mine?

This doesn’t necessarily need to look like “big, drastic” measures or life change- not everyone is called to a vocation of full time ministry. Oftentimes, the very place that you’re at is exactly where God wants you to minister. You can be diligent in working towards healthy, fruit bearing goals, (when they are lined up with God’s call for your your life) and do it from a place of peace, rest, and from a desire to see Him be glorified above yourself.

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways.”

Psalm 119:37

Let’s consider the story of Mary and Martha:

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

What Martha was doing wasn’t necessarily wrong- she was busy serving and making sure everything was in order for Jesus’ visit to their home. It was a lovely and hospitable effort. I can SO relate to her in this. That’s probably where I’d be as well.

But the story reveals more than just her actions in serving- it shows her heart:

Scripture says she was “distracted”, “Anxious”, and “Troubled about many things.”

I can guess that if you get caught up in the “hustle culture” lies, at some point you’re going to get burnt out and will be able to how she’s feeling. I know I’ve been there. To be completely honest, I’m there now. And I’m weary. Join me in seeking what Holy obedience to God from a place of dependence on Him looks like?

“The world clamors, “Do more! Be all that you can be!” But our Father whispers, “Be still and know that I am God.” ― Joanna Weaver

We must discern when it’s time to abide, and when it’s time to get to work. Oftentimes, it’s a matter of the heart and where our motives lie.

“So here I am. Still working hard, still spinning a fair amount of plates, but doing it from a place of rest, a place of Christ in me, a place of “This does not identify me… Grace will get you places hustling never can.”

@thegirlnamedblake

This is part 3 of what has turned into small series. Read part one on Slow Growth here. Read part 2 on Embracing less here.

Faith

Embracing “less” This Holiday Season

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post may contain affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you!).

Thanksgiving passed in a blur. We hardly blinked and we’re well into December already. All of the holiday activities have begun which means for some of us, it’s the most wonderful (stressful) time of the year. So maybe this year is the year that we finally “embrace less”.

When I suggest this, I’m not talking about less material things (although for many of us, less stuff is something worth considering). Rather, I mean “embracing less” as a heart posture of slowing down. Of quieting the busy so that we can take in that which is truly important.

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Col 3:2

Embracing less so that you have the heart space to draw nearer to Christ.

Because what we really need this holiday season is a refocused heart on advent. And one of the simple things he asks of us, is to abide. “Abide in me and I in you.” John 15:4

“refusing the wrong of rushing, lingering long enough to really listen. There is no need for more: the heart is full of gifts that is full of Christ.”

Ann Voskamp

What would it look like if we could set aside some of the hustle and bustle of the holidays that bring worry and stress, and instead abide in Him? What if we sought out practical ways to bring fullness, unity, and peace in your home?

And this will look different for everyone. But a few examples/ideas:

  • If sending the perfect Christmas cards to everyone is enough to put you and your family over the edge, consider a family night of writing some handwritten letters to just a few loved ones. It may not be “easier” or less time consuming, but it’s displays thoughtfulness to the recipient and time together as you write (or color if the kids are young).
  • Forgo the popular (yet sometimes traumatic) Santa photo for a quiet night at home. Pull out a few props and set up a family Photo Booth- get a little silly together!
  • instead of trying to fit in every single activity and party, be OK with saying no to some of these outings for the sake of a healthier, well rested family.
  • Take a little extra time at dinner each night to read through an advent devotional together.

Set aside hurry and hustle for slow growth, being present, and abiding in Him long enough to hear His still small voice.

Refuse to feel guilty for not ticking off all the holiday bucket list items (like ice skating, decorating Christmas cookies, caroling, etc). These can be wonderful activities to usher in the joy of the season, but when the “why” behind them doesn’t point towards joy, it’s a hindrance, not a help.

And I get it, there are commitments we need to follow through on and holiday activities we really can’t avoid, even though they do bring a measure of stress and busyness. But even in this, we can shift our perspective towards Christ:

“Linger in the quiet and taste the grace of now, and know that He is good and He is God… So the whirl can hush and the spin can slow because He will bless, and He will bless with himself come down. The present is His presence…

Ann Voskamp

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love.”

Zeph 3:17

Will you pause long enough to listen to His rejoicing over you?

Faith

Rejoicing in Slow Growth

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

We live in this instant gratification, “hustle” culture. We seem to measure success by how much we’re doing and how quickly we’re doing it. And lately I’ve been feeling the pressure to adopt this mindset. I’ll think to myself, “my blog and social media would be seeing more traffic if I spent more time on it. My child would be “better off” if we enrolled her in all of the programs and activities. I should really volunteer more and attend all the extra events at church.” Do you ever feel this way? Like you’re never quite doing enough and never quite measuring up?

But the Lord whispered to my heart that instead of doing more, I need to rest in Him.

Instead of filling my plate with more tasks and busyness, I should be looking to Him to fill my cup. That I’m exactly right where I need to be and I need only to be surrendered and still before Him- allowing Him to work in and through me.

And so I’ve decided to daily set aside the pressure to “hustle” and lean in to the principle of slow growth. I’m finding that this is not so easy to live out though.

I can guess that whatever season you’re in, you’ve had moments of chafing against the slow growth. Impatience towards the time it’s taking to move to where you want to be and where you feel God has called you. But perhaps in the waiting, God is doing His deepest growth in your heart.

“The secret of his public life was his private life. Show me a man or woman who is effective in public, and I’ll show you a person who is effective in private. This is the hidden life–that part of a person that develops in apparent obscurity, the part that the Spirit quietly grows up in each of us if we allow it…Each season of life is important and leads to the next.”

Jill Briscoe, Prayer that Works

Slow growth is the molding of your character in the quiet.

I recently heard a sermon by J.D. Greear on Acts 9:13-31. One of his main points was that “Paul was chosen yet God took many years to prepare him”. He provided some other examples of individuals in Scripture that were called by God but went through a season of waiting first, a “delayed preparation”:

Paul, 17 years: Scholars agree that there were at least 17 years between his calling in Acts 9 his missionary commission in Acts 13.

Moses, 40 years: God chose him to lead Israel out of Egypt. Instead of doing that right away, he spent the next 40 years tending sheep in the desert.

David, 15 years: God anointed him to be King of Israel but then he went back to being a shepherd.

Joseph, 20 years: God told Moses he would use him to save Israel but then sent him off to slavery and prison first.

God used those periods of waiting to soften them and prepare them for accomplishing His purposes.

And this isn’t just about “waiting”… Slow growth is the embracing of the quiet sanctification that God accomplishes in your heart AS you wait.

It’s the painfully small, necessary steps towards Christlikeness.

Because maybe slow growth looks like slow death…

This is the hard part. Slow growth requires death to self, the surrender of our will, and the letting go of our expectations and allowing God to do His work in and through us.

So don’t be afraid of the wait. Be OK with the fact that maybe God isn’t asking you to do more. Be OK with the fact that maybe God is just asking you to be still and surrender to His sanctifying work in your heart. Rejoice in intentional growth. Take a cue from nature– slow and steady growth develops deep roots and rich fruit.

“That they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:3

read more on God’s timing in seasons of life: “When Life Brings change, but you’re not ready”

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