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Busy-less

Oh, how often I confront this topic! One of these days, God is going to show me how to create and utilize margin in my life for His purpose. Until then, I’m back to the basics and self-reminders. In fact, I’m actually learning to write my posts ahead of time (like this week) because I know that Sunday I will be extremely busy. So that’s progress, right?

The next three weeks will be very hectic for me. VBS at Northside is this week. I also have to go into work on Thursday and Friday (again, I’ve already prepped so that this won’t be too stressful). We made an impromptu decision to visit Wild Adventures next weekend because, honestly, we likely won’t have another opportunity to go out of town with Bryson. Then on June 21, I leave for Kids’ Camp! But wait! There’s more! The following week, I am scheduled to attend a literacy conference in Jacksonville. Whew, just thinking about all that I have ahead of me is enough to make me want to hide in bed until June is over!

Don’t get me wrong, I am so excited about each of these events. VBS has become such a wonderful time for our church to come together and love on kids. I love my job and am looking forward to planning some things for next year. Vacations with my family, even for the weekend, are treasured moments. Camp is just, well, EPIC! And the literacy conference will provide me with ideas and insight on how to be the best teacher for my students.

However, if I’m not careful, my busyness will take over everything else in my world. I have often joked that June is my summer work month, and July is my vacation. I’m not leaving any space for what God may want to do in and through me this month.

Every time things get this hectic, I’m reminded that God clearly spoke to me that He couldn’t add any more to my plate. It was already full. I so desperately want God to take me deeper into this ministry. I know there’s more. He’s already shown me a taste of it! So what’s a busy girl to do?

I bought this great Bible at eWomen2023 Conference. It’s called the “Care and Counsel Bible.” One of the things I love about this particular Bible is the commentary that speaks to so many common struggles. The particular section I read today is entitled “Rest Stop.” Here’s the scripture:

He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. (Mark 6:31, 32)

To provide a little context, the chosen twelve had just returned from doing ministry with the power of God moving through them. Also, during this time John the Baptist had been beheaded. When the apostles returned to Jesus, He nudged them into a season of rest. God Himself designed a day set aside for rest. 

In the busyness of life, it’s so important to take a moment to rest in the Lord. And as I move forward in ministry, God is teaching me to be busy-less so He can open the doors that I just don’t have time to walk through yet.

What can you set aside to be busy-less? What can wait today so you can refresh physically, mentally, and emotionally? I don’t want to risk burnout, so I once again align my heart vertically and refresh myself in the Lord.

With this in mind, I humbly ask for your prayers as I move forward in this sacred calling of authenticity and truth. I continue to be prayerfully open to speaking engagements as God teaches me to offload some of my data so that I can embrace the next part of ministry He is opening for me.


© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.


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