Choosing Slow

The Rebellious Act of Slowing Down in a Fast-Paced World

Choosing Slow: The Rebellious Act of Slowing Down in a Fast-Paced World

As the calendar inched closer to 2025, I found myself caught in a paradox—a marathon and a sprint rolled into one.

Early November marked the launch of my first book baby, right as I was working tirelessly to build my writing coaching business. Every day, I made strides in the right direction, yet my to-do list remained never-ending. The moment I checked off one task, three more seemed to take its place.

I tried setting new goals for January, but unfinished tasks from November and December lingered. When the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, I had no resolutions, no word of the year, and no structured plan to complete the many races I had been running.

It was time to reevaluate.

Breaking Free from the Busy Mindset

For most of my life, I was more of a “Martha” than a “Mary.” Only in the last few years have I consciously chosen to slow down, prioritizing presence over productivity. But as the final quarter of the year hit, my inner “Martha” took over once again.

I despise the glorification of busyness—the way society equates a packed schedule with success. It’s toxic. Unhealthy. Draining. So, I made a radical decision: I committed to slowing down.

In a world obsessed with hustle culture, this choice felt almost countercultural. Entrepreneurs and writers alike preach the gospel of speed—grow faster, write more, produce constantly. But I knew my focus for the year needed to be different.

My word for the year became slow.

The Radical Notion of Slowing Down

When I started sharing my word of the year with others, I was met with wide eyes and stunned silence—similar to the reactions I get when I tell church folks I write to help survivors of spiritual abuse. It’s such a foreign concept to many that they don’t quite know how to respond.

One friend’s response, however, stood out. When I told her my goal for the year was to embrace slow living, she gasped and said, “Oh, now that’s rebellious!”

I laughed at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized she was right. Choosing slow in a world that glorifies speed is an act of rebellion. It’s a giant “eff you” to a culture that tells us our worth is tied to our productivity.

And I think that’s exactly why I’m embracing it.

Photo by Red Zeppelin on Unsplash

Learning from Mary and Martha

This week, as I studied what Jesus did do, I found myself in Luke 10—the story of Mary and Martha.

Luke records it this way:

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha, and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated with finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests. She interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.”

The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”
(Luke 10: 38-42 TPT)

We’ve all heard this story countless times, but how often do we truly absorb its message?

Growing up in church, I was taught that this story emphasizes putting Jesus first. And while that lesson holds value, I believe there’s another takeaway here:

Martha wasn’t doing bad work.

She was doing worthy work—tasks that felt necessary, even urgent. Yet in her busyness, she missed the true priority.

It’s easy to judge Martha and think, How could she be in the presence of Jesus and still focus on cooking and cleaning? But if I’m honest, I do the same thing. And I suspect many of us do.

Because we live in a world that tells us to go, go, go.

The Distractions That Keep Us Busy

Most of us aren’t distracted by bad things—we’re distracted by good things.

We fill our time with:

• Work

• Our kids’ schedules

• Church commitments

• Social media

• Relationships

• Housework

• Politics

• Mindless entertainment

We convince ourselves these distractions are necessary, even noble. But in doing so, we often neglect what truly matters.

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

A Challenge to Slow Down

This week, I challenge you to pay close attention to how you spend your time.

• Where do you get distracted?

• What worthy work pulls you away from what’s most important?

• What commitments could you let go of to embrace a more focused, intentional life?

Friend, I pray you find the courage to slow down. To resist the pressure of busyness. To prioritize presence over productivity.

Choosing slow might just be the most rebellious thing you do this year.

Reflections:

• What worthy work do you find yourself doing that still serves as a distraction?

• What can you remove from your schedule to help you live a more focused life?

• What steps can you take this week to guard against distractions?

Let’s rebel against the rush—together.