Slow Down

​​​​​​​Evelyn Porteza Tabingo

But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31, NKJV

Many will describe the pace of their lives today as “warp speed” or “out of control.” Cellular phones, voicemail, e-mail messages, a demanding job, twelve to fourteen hours of work a day, the list goes on. All contribute to this "life in the fast lane."

People seem to be always rushing. In the hospital where I worked, doctors walked in the hallways with their cup of coffee or soda cans in their hands; they had no time to sit and enjoy the drink before they went from one patient to another. One early winter morning, I saw a nurse drop off her sleeping baby in the arms of the babysitter who was waiting in the parking lot. Some women apply make-up in the car while waiting for the light to turn green. I once saw a driver brushing her teeth during the morning traffic. "Crazy!" we may say.

Some of us feel like we are "running to and fro," having way too many things to do and feverishly attempting to accomplish them before the day is over. For students, the stress of finishing a term paper due the next day, or the anxiety before a final exam. For others, the never-ending chores at home. For families with school age children, the everyday cycle of dropping off the kids to school in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon and then ball practice, music lessons, or other extracurricular activities in the school.

Before our kids could drive, Henry and I spent weekends attending football or basketball tournaments in academies as far as three hour's drive away. We cherish the memories of these weekends and were glad to be part of the children's growing years.

To those caught in this "mad rush" and often felt the need for more hours in a day, slow down! Are you are burdened by a busy schedule today? Slow down! Let the Lord take control. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).


Evelyn Porteza Tabingo

New Every Morning Copyright© 2022 Pacific Press Publishing Association

Evelyn Porteza Tabingo is a retired cardiac nurse living in Oceanside, California, USA

​​​​​​​Evelyn Porteza Tabingo