Fastlane Fallout: Reclaiming Stillness

"He calms the storm so that its waves are still." (Psalm 107:29)

Speed is addictive because it taps into something deep and electric within us—the thrill of the rush, the sharp focus of the moment, and the surge of adrenaline. It’s not just about winning; it’s the intoxicating mix of risk, rhythm, and raw excitement.

Busyness has us held in constant motion and permanent slavery.

We have so much whirling noise and constant stimulation around us that we are losing our ability to be still.

The silence of the waves in this Psalm means to be hushed, still, or inactive. Peace and calm go against our cultures, our habits, our lifestyles, and even our preferences.

Too Busy to Stop

I will honestly admit I have had to repent and relearn how to reset my fast lane default setting.

Consider how frequently you use phrases like "I am so busy" or "I have so much to do." We often rely on these quick expressions to explain, excuse, or justify our misalignment, poor choices, fractured priorities, and disrupted lives. While being busy is often applauded, productivity can be an illusion that obscures our flaws and hinders us from living fully or creating a life of value and intention.

Life in overdrive steers you away from who you were called to be!

Why Can't We Be Still?

I don't think we know how to live out of stillness. Our minds and our prayers are overflowing, and life around us is addicted to activity and scrolling on to the next thing. We have drifted so far from God's original design for our lives and families.

I am unable to silence the chaos around me or within me. My efforts to find stillness or create it are futile. Even when I try to be silent, there seems to be so much to say or countless interruptions and distractions that pull me off.

Start with Honesty

Let's start with a simple question:

How do I usually respond when I feel forced to pause—do I resist, feel guilty, or embrace it?

We have to start with the truth: We are captives. We are blind, and we are oppressed in a prison that we built and strive to maintain!

"He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour" ( Isaiah 61:1–2).

Reclaim Stillness

Stillness is not just a day or a weekend retreat gift. It is a reorientation that breaks us out of false beliefs and corrupt motives. We were designed to need disconnection from our constant doing, to recalibrate, breathe, and remember what matters most.

Remember Mary and Martha? Which one are you?

Are you anxious, busy, and overloaded with many things or choosing a prioritised life of power and presence with Him!

Shift to Surrender

Surrender shifts the focus from performance to presence, from striving to trust. It restores our clarity, heals our ruptured relationships, and re-centres our hearts back in alignment.

Surrender is the place to rediscover stillness and reclaim its rightful position in your life. Don't wait for your next vacation or long weekend. We are being called back into a rhythm that partners with God. Instead of resting from work, we should be working from rest!

We are responsible for stewardship of ourselves from the inside out.

I wrote a post: Reducing the Overload, which has some practical tips for realigning and resetting.

Reclaiming stillness is not about avoiding burnout or conserving energy; it is a complete reorientation out of the fastlane and into fullness - surrendering the rush to steward your soul and live wisely!

Take Time To Reclaim Today

• Which activities, pressures, or habits in my daily life keep me from slowing down?

  
  

• What does “stillness” look like for me personally? How would I like to experience it?

  
  

• What small, practical steps can I take this week to create and reclaim stillness in my schedule?

  
  

• How can I remind myself that stillness is not wasted time but a vital part of living fully?