Jesus’ Example of Slowing Down

(This is an edited transcript of “Slow Down,” Episode 1 of The Carpool Line Podcast. This podcast from Family Christian gives moms a few minutes to connect with God so they can better connect with their families. Here’s how to listen.)  

Have you ever noticed that when asked—How are you doing?—many of us answer—Busy— without a second thought. I mean we don’t even think about it. Busy seems to be the cultural norm in our world, even our vacations often look and feel busy. 

However, from the beginning of His time in the flesh Jesus modeled for us a different norm. He showed us how to slow down and move at a different pace—even when He was an infant in Bethlehem. Think about that first encounter mentioned in Scripture. 

God first presented His Son to us in the flesh, lying in a manger. 

At rest.  

The angels told the shepherds to look for that as a sign. Scripture reads in Luke 2:12: “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  

God could have presented His infant Son wide awake, crying, or nursing. As a mom, you know babies do all of those things at any given moment. 

Instead, the Lord chose to present Jesus to the world at rest. 

We don’t need to know why God introduced our Savior that way to appreciate this perfect example of beginning whatever God calls us to do from a place of rest.  

That goes for motherhood, too. 

When we approach the work of motherhood from a posture of rest, we can slow down and move at God’s pace. We can parent from a place of spiritual restoration not physical or mental exhaustion. We can release all of our burdens. You know the ones I am talking about: 

• the thoughts of making a wrong parenting decision 

• the guilt of losing our tempers 
• the doubts about not being good enough 
• the stress of not being around to protect your child all of the time 

We can release those burdens and take up the yoke of Jesus instead. Being yoked with Him means moving at His pace with our steps and trusting that He knows where to go.    

Long after Jesus grew out of sleeping in a manger, He continued to give us the perfect example of resting and moving at the pace the Father sets. 

In fact, during His ministry on earth, Jesus was known for a lot of  things—being in a hurry wasn’t one of them.  

Jesus wasn’t in a hurry to start His earthly ministry. He wasn’t in a hurry to wake up from His nap even when His boat encountered a storm that scared the most experienced fishermen on board. He wasn’t in a hurry to get to Lazarus even when He knew that His dear friend was dying. Jesus wasn’t in a hurry to keep walking to the next town even though people needed Him there.  

Jesus slowed down to rest. He slowed down to spend time with His Father. He slowed down to invite His disciples to rest with Him. When Jesus felt tired, He slowed down to take a break. 

And sometimes, Jesus took a nap. Scripture makes a point of telling us that He did. And nowhere in scripture does it read that Jesus felt guilty about any of the times He rested. Let me say that again: nowhere in scripture does it read that Jesus felt guilty about any of the times He rested. (By the way, we’ll talk more about this in episode 3 so stay tuned). 

Want to be more like Jesus in your daily life? Slow down. Rest in and with the Father. Trust His timing, His faithfulness, His goodness, and His plans for your life, and the lives of your family. Go at His pace, not your own.  

I love how the Message translation words Jeremiah 2:25: “Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway?”  

You can do that right now. Take a deep breath and follow Jesus’ example of rest. Make the choice to approach your life and your relationships from a place, from a posture of rest. Just like Jesus. 

I want to leave you with a question to think about: What in your life feels so urgent that you believe you can’t take the time to slow down and rest?  

Ask the Lord to help you follow Jesus’ example to slow down. Listen for any changes to your schedule or mindset that He might be asking you to make. Be obedient to what He reveals to you.  

Before we end this episode, I want to leave you with a prayer about slowing down. Let these words wash over you as He slows you down: 

A Prayer for Slowing Down 

Lord, we don’t want to walk ahead of You. 

We tend to veer off course and take unnecessary detours. 

Please slow us down.  

Lord, we don’t want to walk beside You. 

We fight to set the pace and move before you do. 

Please slow us down. 

Lord, we want to walk behind You. 

We need to keep our eyes focused on You and step where You lead. 

Please slow us down.  

Lord, help us be after You. 

Amen.   

(This is an edited transcript of “Slow Down,” Episode 1 of The Carpool Line Podcast. This podcast from Family Christian gives moms a few minutes to connect with God so they can better connect with their families. Here’s how to listen.) 

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As a writer and speaker, Lisa’s heart beats for encouraging women, supporting parents in their role as a child’s first and best teacher, and pointing people to Jesus. Lisa lives in north Atlanta, with her husband of 25+ years, Clay, and their two daughters, Emerson and Ellery.  To learn more, follow Lisa on Instagram, visit her website or order her devotional, Simplifying Rest.