Imagine this: you’re juggling multiple projects, deadlines, and commitments all at once. You’re trying to maintain a balance between work, family, and personal growth, but something just isn’t working. For me, this has been a familiar cycle, and it has everything to do with our modern-day problem of excessive busyness and constant screen time. It’s something many of us are all too familiar with.
At one point, I had two different projects going on. One was cutting into family time, and the other was cutting into the time I normally reserve for connecting with God. On top of that, I had several other projects going on the side.All of this on top of my regular job, weekend plans, a yard sale to organize, wedding invitations to send, and family gatherings to attend. Oh, and let’s not forget the two weeks of Camp that My family and I attended And somewhere in the chaos, my wife and I tried to find time to hang out with friends.
But let me be clear, none of this makes me more important. We all have schedules to juggle, responsibilities to manage, and people to care for. Yet, busyness is often glorified, as though it’s a badge of honor that signifies our value. And that’s where we get things wrong.
The Trap of Busyness
I once saw the acronym: BUSY—Being Under Satan’s Yoke. Now, that phrase isn’t directly in the Bible, but it captures something essential: busyness is a tool the devil uses to steal our intimacy with God and rob us of peace.
I don’t like myself when I’m busy. When my life gets overcrowded with tasks, I become someone I don’t want to be. I stop being kind. I get frustrated with my wife when it’s my turn to get up at night for our daughter’s cries, but I stayed up late working and have to get up early for another project. Instead of compassion, I emit ugly vibes—“Don’t you know I’m busy!!? I need to sleep so I can provide for the family!” As if my busyness makes me some how more important.
What happens when we get busy? Busyness steals focus. How many times have I found myself working on a project or thinking about the next task on my list while trying to have a conversation with someone? In that moment, I’m not present. I’m not a good follower of Jesus when I’m mentally absent, distracted, or thinking about everything else I need to get done.
Busyness doesn’t just steal focus; it steals joy and peace. We become wound tight, snapping at those around us, frustrated because we can’t get everything done. We become victims of our own schedules, lamenting, “Don’t you care how busy I am?”
But here’s the truth: busyness is often a symptom of poor time management. It’s not cancer. It’s not a life-threatening condition. It’s simply a failure to set boundaries and say “no” to the right things.
Busyness: The Enemy of Focus
Those two weeks of camp taught me one thing above all else: nothing is more important than being in the presence of Jesus. For the first time in months, I was quiet and still enough to hear Him. I rediscovered peace and joy because I had stopped, focused, and listened.
There’s a story in the Bible that resonates deeply with this idea—Luke 10:38-42. Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary. Martha is busy, distracted by all the preparations that need to be made, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him. Martha complains, but Jesus responds, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better.”
In those days, sitting at the feet of your rabbi wasn’t just about rest; it was about being taught, mentored, and trained for future ministry. Mary wasn’t just avoiding work—she was choosing to prioritize what mattered most. She had found focus, something busyness steals from all of us.
Busyness keeps us from what’s truly important. Just like when I was spending a quiet evening with my family, only for my phone to buzz with a text from a friend needing something. I told myself it would only take a minute, but that minute turned into me being mentally absent for my family.
What if I had just said, “Hey, you’ve got it under control. I’m spending time with my family right now”? Only I can be my child’s father. Only I can be fully present for my wife. Busyness is my problem to solve, not the phone’s fault or the fault of my calendar. It’s my responsibility.
Busyness: The Enemy of Empathy
Another trap busyness sets is that it kills empathy. When we’re too busy, we don’t have the time to truly care about what others need. When Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her, she wasn’t interested in Mary’s needs or growth; she just wanted help with her tasks. Busyness reduces relationships to utilitarian terms: “You’re either helping me, or you’re a distraction.”
Empathy takes time. It takes slowing down to really hear someone else, to care about their needs and struggles. When we’re busy, we don’t have time for empathy, and we definitely don’t have time for people. Busyness tells us our tasks are more important than anyone else’s.
Busyness: The Enemy of Peace and Joy
Finally, busyness robs us of peace and joy. The more we cram into our schedules, the more worried and upset we become. What if everything doesn’t get done? What if the yard sale isn’t perfect? What if we miss the wedding? What if someone gets their garden in before we do? All these “what-ifs” build stress, anxiety, and tension.
But here’s the truth: none of it matters as much as we think it does. If the yard sale isn’t flawless, it’ll be okay. If the wedding details aren’t perfect, no one will notice. The pursuit of perfection in our busy schedules is often what steals the peace and joy that God wants us to experience in our lives.
Choosing What’s Better
So, what lies are you believing about busyness? Are you mistaking being busy for being important? Are you letting your schedule dictate your life, instead of focusing on what really matters?
Jesus tells us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened, promising us rest. We need to ask ourselves: what good things can we say “no” to, in order to prioritize the better? Let’s stop glorifying busyness and start focusing on the things that truly matter—our relationship with God, our families, and our own peace of mind.
