The Idol of Busyness

The Idols of Busyness

These are some key points Pastor Brooke shared today that truly spoke to my heart. The message was on the idols of busyness, drawn from Luke 5:15–16, and it reminded me how easy it is to get caught up doing things for God instead of spending time in His presence.

She shared how busyness can become an idol, not because we stop believing in God, but because we start adding things to Him. We start measuring our worth by how much we do, how productive we are, or how full our calendars look. But God didn’t call us to hustle for Him, He called us to rest with Him.

When my husband transitioned, I didn’t know how to handle the silence that followed. So I filled the silence with service, singing in the choir, joining the Praise Team, ushering, doing community work, and caring for my mom. All of it felt like I was doing something good, even godly. But, in all honesty, I was running on empty. Deep down, I think I was afraid to slow down… afraid that if I did, I’d have to face my pain. So I stayed busy, thinking I was pleasing God, yet missing His presence in the process.

That’s why this message hit home for me.

Pastor Brooke reminded us that Jesus had a rhythm, a pace that included stepping away from the crowds to be with the Father. Luke 5:16 says, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” He wasn’t moved by demand, but by intimacy. His power flowed from presence, not productivity.

We were created to live in sync with Heaven’s rhythm. But when we get out of step, when the noise gets too loud, and the weight gets too heavy, we need to return to the stillness. Return to the table. Return to Him.

With the Holy Spirit’s help, I had to learn to slow down. To be still. To abide in Him. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’m learning that rest is not laziness, it’s obedience. And presence will always be more powerful than performance.

Jesus is not calling us to busyness, He’s calling us to the table. To sit. To rest. To simply be with Him.