Time has been on my mind a lot lately. From September to Christmas is a busy season for us. There are family reunions and mini-vacations and birthdays and festivals, in addition to regular school year activities, homeschool clubs, gymnastics and karate. Add in Bible study and MOPS, plus our church activities, and we’re a busy people.
I have just finished up a little study on the Book of Daniel with She Reads Truth (a truly wonderful resource for women who want to be in the Word), and out of that whole fascinating, terrifying book, you know what stuck out most to me? This verse:
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:4 (ESV)
And the NLT:
“But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” Daniel 12:4
This is an angel talking with Daniel, explaining the meaning of a dream. The end times are going to be hectic, with people “running to and fro” and “rushing here and there” trying to figure out what is happening, desperate for the truth.
And I can’t help but feel that we’re there: in a time of rushing and running and frantically trying to figure it all out.
You know what slows me down? A sick child. Last week we came home from one trip and had only 2 nights at home before we left on another trip. The week before, we had run around like crazy people. We went to the fair, ran a MOPS meeting, went to co-ops and zoo club, and more. And on our one day at home between vacations we had Bible study and gymnastics and karate. It was our busiest day of the week. While these are super-fun things to do, things that we wanted to do, they didn’t leave us with any time to just do nothing.
And you know who I don’t pay attention to when I have no nothing-time? God.
I was picturing myself up very late on those 2 nights at home washing laundry and re-packing, but Maddie got sick. Instead of rushing around on our one day, we stayed home. The kids had a jammy day (one of our favorite things) and we didn’t get any schoolwork done. We watched a movie together and read books and in between those things I washed and folded clothes and got us ready for our next vacation. We had a great dinner together because I had time to cook, and we really enjoyed the day (even though Maddie had a cold).
Sometimes when we are so busy rushing around and doing things, God has to tell us: stop.
It may come in different forms: a sick child, a lost job, a car in the shop, a rainy beach vacation. All of these things are God-sent opportunities to give up on our schedule and our to-do list. To slow down and just do nothing. It is in those moments that we will have a few seconds to look around and see God and find the truth, not in our searching, rushing, and doing.
This is day two in the Write 31 Days challenge. My topic is “Just…Write 31 Days”. Please visit here to see what else I have written for the challenge.
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I agree. Sometimes we wait too long.