By Shay Greenwood
Shay (far left) discusses busyness on Broadmoor Baptist Church’s “After the Message” podcast with Adult Discipleship and Missions Pastor Mark Evans (center) and Lead Pastor Josh Braddy (far right).
I’m convinced many of us have hurry sickness and don’t even realize it.
Hurry sickness is that chronic state of being overwhelmed, feeling anxious, and constantly convinced you never have enough time. Do you feel exposed? Don’t worry, I’m right there with you. John Mark Comer talks about this in his book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.”
I feel it most when I sit down on the couch for a second and suddenly feel that wave of anxiousness. Have you ever had that feeling like you’re forgetting something major and everything’s about to crash? That feeling of dread creeps in, fear follows, and being still feels almost impossible because the thoughts are just too loud.
And moms get hit the hardest. Our lives are a never-ending highlight reel of activity. There’s so much to do and never enough time to do it. No wonder we feel overwhelmed. We’re living in a constant fight-or-flight state with a list full of things only we can do. It’s the season we’re in. Lord, help us.
What I wish someone had told me 25 years ago, when I had four kids under 5, is this: Even when life is full and busy, you don’t have to live in a constant state of hurry. I wish I had learned earlier how to slow my body down in the middle of all the activity. Scripture tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). I didn’t know then how much my soul needed that stillness in the midst of chaos.
In the last couple of years, I learned that I didn’t know how to take a deep breath. Have you tried it? Do it now. Breathe in through your nose for four counts, and then slowly let it out for four. This small act of stillness can make a huge impact on eliminating the hurry from our anxious hearts.
Jesus invites us into a more relaxed state when He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest isn’t something we earn after a full day; it’s something we can receive at any moment because of the power that only He can provide when we are plugged into a relationship with Him. It’s important to be intentional.
If any of this resonates with you, I’d love to invite you to listen to Broadmoor Baptist Church’s “Messages” podcast. Start with Josh Braddy’s “Holy Broken – Week 2” sermon from October 6. Then join us on the “After the Message” episode released that same week, where Josh, Mark Evans, and I share more about busyness and how we can step into a slower, more peaceful way of living.
And if it speaks to you, message me on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to hear how God meets you in this season. Let’s keep encouraging each other to step out of the hurry and into His peace.
Shay Greenwood is a Certified Kingdom Life Coach who loves helping women live with more love, joy, and peace in their lives. She’s a wife to Roosevelt and mom to Bria (Cameron), 28; Chandler (Bo), 26; Noah, 24; Jacob, 23; and Adam, 13. You can find her @shaygreenwood on Facebook and Instagram and @MommaJaywood on Tiktok.