Slowing Down To Go Fast
My husband, Bob, is an avid fan of auto racing. Not only does he love to watch the races, he also used to do autocross racing and won several national championships. While giving a friend of mine a crash course on the topic, Bob made the statement, “Sometimes you have to slow down to go fast.” He explained that when you drive through a curve, sometimes you need to slow down in order to maintain control of the vehicle and have a tight turn. Then, when you’re coming out of the curve, you can pick your speed back up. He said that many drivers take curves too fast, which causes them to have less control of the vehicle and make wide turns. Incidentally, they actually lose time in the curve because they refuse to slow down. If they would only slow down momentarily, they would have a faster course-completion time. These drivers, however, can’t seem to reconcile logically how slowing down will help them go faster.
Jesus understood the principle of slowing down to go fast. We see this in His instructions that we must lose our life to find it; we must die in order to live; and we must humble ourselves to be exalted. Perhaps this is why He told many of the people He healed not to tell anybody. And consider His actions when Lazarus (the brother of Martha and Mary) became ill and died. When Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, He purposely lingered in another town for two extra days until Lazarus was dead. What appeared to be apathy on the part of Jesus was actually strategy. His delay in healing a sick man led to the greater glory of raising a dead man. Also, Jesus’ own crucifixion is a stunning example of slowing down (the good news) in order to go faster – the classic short-term pain for long-term gain.
The truth of slowing down to go fast has countless life applications—it can apply to business, finance, personal projects, sports, relationships, working out, eating. In all of our lives we have goals, priorities, responsibilities, aspirations. There are things we want to do but don’t have time to do. There are things we need to do that should have been done yesterday. There are relationships that need our attention, home-improvement projects that we keep putting off, care of our bodies that we neglect. And in the many arenas of our lives, we pound the pavement, trying to beat the clock and have enough time left over to enjoy the fruit of our labor. As we navigate the many curves along our life courses, sometimes we just have to slow down in order to go fast. Whatever this concept may mean for you or look like in your particular situation, let Jesus reconcile the logic. In the end, He will effectuate the greater glory for you and for Himself.
Mark 6:30-32
Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
Mark 7:34-37
Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Heavenly Father, help us to know when to slow down and what that looks like in our particular circumstances. Help us to surrender our logic to Yours and trust You through the temporary pain, knowing that we have eternal gain in You. In the precious name of Jesus, amen.
Barb
Jesus understood the principle of slowing down to go fast. We see this in His instructions that we must lose our life to find it; we must die in order to live; and we must humble ourselves to be exalted. Perhaps this is why He told many of the people He healed not to tell anybody. And consider His actions when Lazarus (the brother of Martha and Mary) became ill and died. When Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, He purposely lingered in another town for two extra days until Lazarus was dead. What appeared to be apathy on the part of Jesus was actually strategy. His delay in healing a sick man led to the greater glory of raising a dead man. Also, Jesus’ own crucifixion is a stunning example of slowing down (the good news) in order to go faster – the classic short-term pain for long-term gain.
The truth of slowing down to go fast has countless life applications—it can apply to business, finance, personal projects, sports, relationships, working out, eating. In all of our lives we have goals, priorities, responsibilities, aspirations. There are things we want to do but don’t have time to do. There are things we need to do that should have been done yesterday. There are relationships that need our attention, home-improvement projects that we keep putting off, care of our bodies that we neglect. And in the many arenas of our lives, we pound the pavement, trying to beat the clock and have enough time left over to enjoy the fruit of our labor. As we navigate the many curves along our life courses, sometimes we just have to slow down in order to go fast. Whatever this concept may mean for you or look like in your particular situation, let Jesus reconcile the logic. In the end, He will effectuate the greater glory for you and for Himself.
Mark 6:30-32
Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
Mark 7:34-37
Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Heavenly Father, help us to know when to slow down and what that looks like in our particular circumstances. Help us to surrender our logic to Yours and trust You through the temporary pain, knowing that we have eternal gain in You. In the precious name of Jesus, amen.
Barb
posted by BreadBakers at 12:51 PM
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