8–10 hours a day. 6–7 days a week. 52 weeks a year.

We’ve all been there before.

We have to-do lists at work that overwhelm. Unprepared presentations. Unreturned phone calls. Unresponded to emails. Unfinished projects.

We have to-do lists at home that never end. The kids always need something. The house always needs to be cleaned. Dinner always need to be made. Laundry always needs to be done.

We have to-do lists for life that rarely seem to be fully under control. Bills to pay. Relationships to manage. Health to take care of. Education to complete.

There’s just no time for awe.

No time for awe of opportunities presented. No time for awe of progress made. No time for awe of accomplishments completed. And the problem is, if we don’t make time to be in awe of the things we see, it’s very unlikely that we will make the time to be in awe of the things we don’t see.

God’s love.
God’s grace.
God’s faithfulness.

At least this was my experience.

I was too busy with everything to be amazed by anything.

Too busy trying to get my “ducks in a row.” Too busy trying to get my “house in order.” Too busy trying not to “put all my eggs in one basket.” All the cliche’s applied. And, unfortunately, so did this one…

“If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.”

Though I was committed to doing “God’s work.” Though I was involved in pursuing “God’s purposes.” Though I was seemingly accomplishing “God’s will.” The tragedy is that, in it all, I wasn’t aware of God’s goodness. I wasn’t amazed at God’s grace. I wasn’t in awe of God’s glory.

Like Martha and unlike Mary, I was too busy using my hands when I should’ve been sitting at Christ’s feet. I was too busy serving God’s purposes when I should’ve been savoring God’s presence. I was too busy working when I should’ve been making more time for worship.

In future blog posts, I will talk about how to avoid this obstacle of busyness, but in the mean time I encourage you to consider and reflect upon the following questions:

Are you too busy with everything to be amazed by anything? Is your busyness for God an obstacle to your awe of God?