The Hidden Engine of Busyness
Hey Friends,
Today I want to talk about busyness and overwork and the hidden engine behind it, the reasons it drives us, and some practical things we can do to manage it.
A Fast-Paced World
Life today is more fast-paced and time-devouring than it was even 50 or 100 years ago. We face unrealistic deadlines at work. Our kids have countless extracurriculars on the weekends. There are meetings on top of meetings, and that’s before family responsibilities even enter the picture.
Add to that a never-ending to-do list and technology constantly telling us to do more now. Professionally and personally, we’re weighed down.
Like heat that speeds molecules into a frenzy, the enemy of our souls utilises the elements of this world to accelerate life at an increasingly rapid pace. The result? You, me, and the church end up tired, busy, and in a constant state of fatigue. With no energy left, we lose sight of the one thing that matters: eternal life, knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.
This isn’t happening by accident. It’s a deliberate, long-term plan of the enemy to destroy our mental health, our physical well-being, our family life, and most of all our spiritual lives.
But there are things the Lord would have us understand and practice in this pressure-cooker existence.
1. Make Space
Deadlines today are often unrealistic. We all feel it, and we suffer for it. However, consider Daniel 2:14 -16
When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, went out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel responded with wisdom and tact. He asked why the decree was so harsh, then went to the king and asked for time so he could interpret the dream.
Under the pressure of urgency, Daniel asked for space, an extension of the deadline, and so must we. Whenever possible, carve out room to work at a healthier pace.
2. Know Your Identity
This connects directly to the first point.
Today, people define themselves by being seen as the most efficient, the hardest working, the ones who come earliest and leave latest. Many of us won’t ask for space because we’re afraid of being viewed as lazy or uncommitted.
But Matthew 3:15–17 shows us another way. When Jesus was baptized by John, the greater (Jesus) by the lesser (John), Jesus could have worried about appearances. But He wasn’t driven by how it looked. He was focused on doing what was right.
And when He rose from the water, the Father declared, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus knew He was loved. That freed Him from the opinions of others.
The same is true for you. By faith in Christ, you are loved and accepted. You don’t need to let others define you. That frees you to ask for time and create space when you need it.
3. Take Time
Ecclesiastes says there’s a time for everything under the sun. But the world says there’s a time for work—and then more work.
The world won’t hand you time. You have to take it. Take time to stop. Take time to rest. Take time to read, to think, to walk, to pray. If you don’t take it, it won’t be given.
4. Let Your Yes Be Yes and Your No Be No
Jesus said, “Let your yes be yes, and your no, no” (Matthew 5:37). Both yes and no are important.
Learn to say no. Don’t let fear of not being liked drive you into overwork. You are already loved by God. You don’t need to be a workaholic to prove your worth.
5. Kids Don’t Need All the Extras
There’s nothing wrong with extracurricular activities. But when they dominate your evenings and weekends, something is off.
Often, if we’re honest, the extras are more about us than our kids. We want meaning from their accomplishments, fluent at five, violin at six, breaking records at ten. But our kids don’t need all that. They dont need to be caught in the same cycle of busyness that we are.
We didn’t grow up with endless activities, and we turned out just fine. Activities are good, but they’re not magic. They don’t form your child’s character as much as you think. Be involved, but don’t believe they need 80 activities to become the best version of themselves.
6. Recognize Pharaoh’s Spirit
Sometimes the busyness comes from above. Bosses who, out of pride, want to make a name for themselves. They drive their teams to unhealthy extremes, like Pharaoh demanding bricks without straw.
If you’re in that situation, pray for deliverance. But while you wait, learn to work in a state of prayer.
Brother Lawrence, in Practicing the Presence of God, described how he maintained communion with God in the midst of daily work. Practicing God’s presence moment by moment sustains us with joy, and joy gives strength.
The Real Issue
At the root, busyness is often idolatry. We seek identity and meaning for ourselves or our children outside of Christ. Mix that with a world driven by hurry, and you have a toxic combination.
Instead of being someone by belonging to Christ, we try to become someone by doing more, and it destroys our souls, our families, and our well-being.
Through Christ, we can resist the pull of busyness, create space, and walk in peace.
