The Miracle of Pace

I am so excited to be spending this week with you, pursuing Jesus and His peace. Over the next seven days, I want to invite you into my world and my heart in a very personal way. I would love to share a deep shortcoming that I have encountered in my own life, and how Jesus is restoring my soul.

So, here is my honest confession: I am a BAD automobile driver! I have never wanted to admit that I am a bad driver but the reality is, I am. I have had too many close calls, where an accident was just inches away. I have given my wife traumatic moments when my driving put us both at risk, and my kids have made jokes about “taking their lives” in their hands when they get in my car. As well, I have had more than just a few conversations with police officers at the side of the road. So there it is, I said it, I am a bad driver.

friend, you may be thinking about how this relates to A Miracle Every Day and the journey of walking with Jesus? Well, when you place your family in unsafe situations and abdicate your role as a protector, you don’t just have a problem, you have a spiritual issue that needs to be resolved.

A few months ago, my wife Laurel said something both simple and profound, “Grant, why don’t you just slow down?” I had no response, but I began to think.

Why was I always in a hurry? Why did driving bring out the worst in me? Why didn’t I care about the safety of my family enough to change my ways? What was God saying through a call to not only change my driving but also to change my heart?

In the days that followed, I decided to embrace a slower and more miraculous pace. In slowing down, I have learned so much about Jesus, myself, and the stupidity of going through life too fast.

Dr. Eugene Peterson wrote a breathtaking paraphrase of the New Testament called The Message. I love his rewriting of Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus says:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

I love the miraculous invitation in the middle of that section, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace”. Jesus invites His followers to do life differently than the rest of the world. He invites us into a restful pace that refreshes our souls, not a hectic whirlwind life that leaves us exhausted and frazzled.

friend, I want to invite you to slow down with me. What might happen if we accepted the invitation of God to match His pace, instead of setting our own? What might we see, hear, taste, and experience if we just learned to reduce the velocity of our lives?

Let’s take a moment, before we begin this journey, and pause. Take 60 seconds and just breathe. Welcome God into your slowing heart rate and focus on Him for one solid moment.

60 seconds of silence. Start now.

Jesus, thank you for your heart. Slow us down so that we can fully experience the miracle of a godly pace. Help us to rest and learn the unforced rhythms of grace. We rest in you. Amen.

You are a miracle!