The world tells us that we need to post every day. It tells us we are already behind on news the moment we wake up. Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, podcasts, they are there to tell us we need to constantly be busy. We need to constantly be “doing”. It tells us we need to keep up, add more, do more, be more, and “grind”. The bible however tells us to rest. What is biblical rest? There are a lot of times when people read Hebrews 4 and they interpret it to mean that we should always rest in God. That is true. But I would also encourage us that we need physical and mental rest. The things that deserve our detailed attention take time. They aren’t manufactured in a vacuum.

It’s something that is unpopular – slowing down.

I’ve been praying to God about my book sequel, hoping to get it out sooner rather than later. Because that’s what the world tells me – that I should be rushing towards my goals and if I’m not, I’m failing, I’m unsuccessful, I’m falling behind.

But I felt something different come to mind when I read the verses in Deuteronomy 27 about God bringing the Israelites into the land of milk and honey as He promised. He commanded them to set up stones and coat them with plaster.

What is the process of making plaster and letting it dry? And why is it connected to slowing down?

It’s a process that involves many steps – preparing the surface, applying the plaster, and applying a topcoat. Each coat takes nearly a week to dry. It’s a slow process to coat each stone and then pile them up. Each step required detail, thought, and as the Israelites made each coat on each stone, I imagined it reminded them of all God had taken them through from Egypt to the Promised Land. We must do the same as we cultivate things that God is doing – taking care of each step, allowing it time to dry, and reminding ourselves of all God has done.

He told them not to use iron and to build an altar. He told them to write all the words of the law which means they also had to use simple tools available to do so. Not all tools in modern society should be used or relied upon in God’s eyes. Then He told them to have fellowship, eat, rejoice in the presence of God, and to take time to enjoy what God has already done.

But the main command that stands out is that God commands the Israelites to listen. How many of us listen to God? It reminds me of being in nature, walking through a forested area, and finding God speaking through even nature itself. When God tells us to be silent and listen, we must. We must drown out the world urging us to rush forward and hurry through our lives when God is commanding us to be silent, to listen, and to obey. It’s not easy to obey even that small command. But God commands the Israelites and us to do things against the grain. He tells us to slow when we want to speed up. He tells us to wait when we want to run forward. He tells us to obey and we’ll be blessed. It’s not easy, obedience when we desire to do things and God calls us to wait, to slow down, to take a beat. But God knows what we need – always. He knows because he created us.

It’s counter cultural to slow down. We have to do God’s work His way. God’s way is usually slower. It doesn’t mean He won’t be glorified if we do it other ways. But when we love and are passionate about the things we are creating in this world, we must slow down, take care, and cultivate what God is trying to do so that He gets the glory.

Just like the steps of plaster, it shouldn’t be rushed.

I always have believed that God gave me the gift to write when I started a few years ago but that He does the final work. That He puts the message onto the page and has control of the heart that reads it. That’s the true work of the cross – that it’s finished by Him through Jesus. So my only true expectation of my writing is that people see God in the words I write. That’s why I published the Murders on Cripple Creek. It’s a story of redemption, family, and of God’s love that covers sin no matter how tragic, ugly, and painful. Because when God redeems, it redeems all of it. For him it’s all or nothing.

I poured love into my book the way I never had done any of the things I had written before that time. I fell in love and that was reflected in the story of Colt and Lark. When I continue their story and the story of all the characters who were affected by the murder and sin of the preacher and his wife, I know God wants me to slow down. I’m not sure why – maybe to enjoy the process of my sequel more? Or maybe he’s speaking to me in my own text and urging me to cultivate other things that need to be included? It’s hard to say.

But I know that God led me to the first book and if I feel him telling me and urging me to slow down, then I will listen even if it’s not what I want to do. Because God has led me this far and He will continue leading my writing journey. He will continue to reveal things to me in His word as I pray for his guidance. When I call, He answers. Maybe you aren’t writing a novel or cultivating something creative. But maybe God is calling you in whatever you’re praying for or trying to achieve to slow down, take care, cultivate things differently and enjoy and slow down in the process. My homework to you is to apply some of the practical steps below to slow down.

God cares less for our successes and more for our hearts. He speaks to us as we live in the small details of our lives. He speaks to us even when we don’t hear him properly. And if we take care to slow down enough to listen, He will strengthen us. It’s not to say that our obedience means He will bless us. But I will tell you that I don’t know everything about God but I do know that God loves to bless. He loves it. It’s His main event. It’s His glory and affection that drive him to bless.

I pray today that God blesses you. That as you slow down, He speaks his blessing over you. I pray He rejoices over you with singing. I pray that whatever He puts your hands to do, He blesses your work. I pray that as He blesses you, you praise Him more. I pray if you’re discouraged that you find peace and you can slow down enough to hear God’s gentle loving voice of rest. God has you. He will never leave you. God knows it’s hard to rest. God knows it’s hard to obey. God knows that you’re worried. God knows it all. God knows the end from the beginning. I pray today it reminds you that it’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to feel behind. Because with God, He walks in front of you already and knows your path. I pray today He allows your heart and your hands to rest in Him fully and to slow down and enjoy your Saturday.