Do your moments, days, weeks, and months feel like a whirlwind? You find yourself both out of breath and dizzy from wrangling small children, juggling work and ministry involvement, and maintaining a home that never seems to stay clean. The days feel long, the years feel short, and you don’t know why you never feel like you can catch up.
Often, the churn of parenthood makes it feel like survival mode is all you have in the tank. You keep saying, “when things slow down, I will…”, except things never slow down. Each new season is as busy or busier as the last, and it feels impossible to slow down.
Thankfully, there’s much encouragement in Scripture to show believers how to slow down in a world that only seems to speed up.
So, take a pause. Take a breath. Spend ten minutes delving into the truths in Scripture. Find rest and encouragement in these five Bible verses about slowing down, and decide to set a new rhythm in your motherhood journey.
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Becoming a Mary in a Martha World
A story often reflected upon but also easily forgotten is the passage of Mary and Martha in Luke 10.
Among the Bible verses about rushing through life, this one should stay at the top of the list. Specifically, look at verses 38-42 (ESV) as it says,
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
When God Says Slow Down
What was “the good portion”? The good portion was Jesus! This truth reflects the Old Testament and reminds believers that one’s greatest possession is fellowship with the Father.
Amidst all the pressure and anxiety of serving, Martha missed the sweetness of sitting at the Lord’s feet and absorbing his teaching like a sponge. Can you imagine the scene? Martha is whizzing around the house cooking, cleaning, and hosting while Mary sat still at Jesus’ feet.
Finally, Martha asked Jesus to make Mary help her. Jesus, in his gentleness, says, “Martha, slow down. Be still. Don’t miss this moment with me.”
Is your world full of Martha moments causing you to miss the Mary moments? Slow down. Return to the good portion of fellowship with your Father and allow Him to align your steps in prioritizing what is most important.
Carry the Yoke that is Easy and Light
Turn the page now, back to Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV). Here, Jesus says,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Here is your personal invitation from Christ to come to him for rest. If needing permission to cease striving, this invitation is for you.
Even as you pursue the good things: serving, discipleship, ministry, raising small children well, and a Christ-centered marriage, you must remember that Jesus is calling you to find your rest in Him alone. Because of the Cross, you must not find yourself in the trap of pursuing more to earn your approval from the Father.
Take on the easy yoke and the light burden. Rather than choosing to carry the heavy yoke of expectations, pressures, and self-inflicted responsibilities, release these things unto the Lord.
Allow him to grant you rest from the heaviness and find stillness and slowness as your new rhythm.
Looking to grow your faith and be more intentional about prayer and bible study? Check out all of our spiritual growth resources!
Slow Down Your Mind
Another impactful bible verse about slowing down comes from Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV), which says,
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Amid your daily hustle of work and mom life, how much of your thought life is full of anxiety? How much of that anxiety is about things out of your control or have not happened yet? Part of learning to slow down involves slowing down your mind.
How do you do that when your small children jump off the back of the couch again, or you are unsure how you will pay your electric bill? How do you stop the hustle and slow down when things are out of your control?
Believers are instructed here to seek first the kingdom and his righteousness. The instruction is simple, but the application takes practice. Continue to fix your eyes and mind on Christ, trusting that in Him you will have all you need.
Take things one day at a time and surrender the things outside your control into His hands to carry.
Lean Into the One Who Provides
Jump, for a moment, back to the Old Testament to read Isaiah 40:31 (ESV),
“but they who wait for 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.”
Notice this verse does not instruct you to strive or perform but instead tells you to wait for the Lord. Just like in Matthew 6:33-34, you can trust the Lord to provide for you what you need as you surrender and wait for Him.
Even as a tired mama, you will find an endless supply of new strength each day as you wait upon the Lord.
Running 900 miles per hour in your strength will leave you feeling drained, but sitting in the sweet embrace of your Father will fill your cup to overflowing.
Where Do You Place Your Hope?
Psalm 33:20-22 (ESV) says,
“Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Four our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”
If you were to read the ESV study notes of this passage, it would say, “Each member of the faithful who sings this, and takes to heart the greatness and wonder of God, is enabled more and more to rest his soul on the Lord, confident that God’s plans will succeed in the earth.”
Here is your encouragement to find hope and confidence in the Lord alone. Cease striving and slow down. Fix your eyes daily on the Father and the more you lean into Him for your hope and rest, the more your confidence will grow in His ability to care for you, sustain you, and meet your every need.
Bible Verses about Slowing Down to Ease the Sprint of Motherhood
Take a deep breath. Grab some index cards and a pen and write down these Bible verses about slowing down. There is no prize for running the fastest, maintaining the cleanest house, or getting to every event early (or on time, if we’re being honest).
Allow these bible verses about slowing down to set a new pace for you and your family. You have permission to slow down, find rest, and let the Lord order your days and steps. You can remain obedient and faithful without burning yourself out.
Continue setting new habits and routines for your family by utilizing our free Purposeful Productivity Prayer Journal to help you stay encouraged and organized to stop the spiral of rush.
Written By: Brittany Thieman
Being a working mom is challenging, and the pressure to “do it all” can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, we can learn from Scripture and from other moms to live out our callings while keeping the Gospel at the center of our homes.
My name is Brittany, and I work as a Director of Operations for a company and run a small business while raising my two young daughters and baby boy on the way. My husband is a pastor, and we just recently relocated from North Carolina to Texas for a new church position. The Lord has taught us much in this busy and tiring season. I hope to encourage other mamas in their journey toward pursuing Christ in the messiness, beauty, and fatigue of motherhood.
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