“And yet, better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 4:6 (NLT)
I don’t do well with unscheduled time. Maybe you’re like me.
Give me an open calendar and I’ll immediately look for ways to fill it:
✔ Organize that drawer
✔ Follow up on emails
✔ Edit a video
✔ Fold the laundry while listening to a podcast about being productive
Free time = opportunity to accomplish something. That’s how I’ve often viewed it.
And yes—time is a gift from God. We’re called to be good stewards of it (Ephesians 5:15-16). But somewhere along the way, I started believing the lie that unless I’m producing something, I’m wasting the time God has given me.
Let’s name it for what it is: a performance trap disguised as stewardship.
But Jesus Didn’t Hustle for the Sake of Hustling
The Gospels show Jesus constantly surrounded by needs—sick people, crowds, questions, expectations. And yet… He pulled away.
- “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)
- “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)
- “He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” (Matthew 14:23)
If the Savior of the world could step away, why do I think I can’t?
Jesus didn’t heal everyone in one day. He didn’t say “yes” to every demand. He wasn’t afraid of silence. He honored the rhythms of rest because His work was meant to flow from intimacy with the Father, not burnout.
Rest Is Not Laziness. It’s Maintenance.
We don’t skip oil changes and expect our car to run well. We don’t drain our phone battery and hope it powers on.
But we expect our minds to stay sharp, our hearts to stay soft, and our souls to stay connected to God without giving them the margin to breathe.
Rest isn’t something we earn after productivity. It’s something we need in order to be productive. Emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually—we need time to recharge so we can serve with joy and not resentment. So we can hear God’s voice instead of just our to-do list.
This Weekend, Leave Some Space
Let’s be honest—many of us use weekends to “catch up.”
But what if we caught our breath instead?
What if we stopped filling every blank? What if we let ourselves enjoy margin—not just as a break from purpose, but as part of it?
Rest isn’t wasted time. It’s an act of trust. It says,
“God, I don’t have to do it all. I just have to follow You.”
Reflection Question:
Where in your week have you been tempted to fill in every blank? What would it look like to bless that space instead of scheduling it?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the gift of rest. Help me see margin not as something to feel guilty about, but something to receive with grace. Show me how to steward my time with You, not just for You. Amen.