Less is More (Let Go and Let God) - Part II

By Elaine Hall

“Be careful how you live – not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15

Last month’s blog was a discussion of New Year’s resolutions that involve the need to unload the heavy things that weigh a person down. It suggested a different approach from shoehorning more things into each precious hour in order to improve one’s life.

Many Americans carry a banner of honor labeled busy. We’re told if you’re busy, you’re productive, your life has meaning and you deserve your space in the world. But at midnight when your head finally hits the pillow, you despair that you not only forgot to pack a drink in your little one’s lunch box, but you rushed right past your brand new devotional and never paused long enough to send up a single prayer of thanks for your family. Or that coworker at the office, who mentioned the possibility of a frightening diagnosis and who’s having surgery next week. 

If you stay busy buying and maintaining stuff and checking off boxes on your to-do list, do you also escape from that busyness by taking your mind off the stressors by wasting more precious time?

Statistics show that as of December 31, 2025, the average adult spends two hours and 21 minutes per day scrolling social media. Do you care when a frequent poster –  who is that person anyway? – uploads a bunch of pictures of the burger and fries she ate in Okmulgee? Or do you enjoy flipping through hundreds of snapshots of Cucamonga, which was on her bucket list?

Scrolling equals time lost, the equivalent of two eight-hour shifts; enough to obtain an online degree that could result in a promotion or even the offer of a better job. And that God-given dream that is the passion of your life, but for which you have no time to pursue? Avoid excessive scrolling. Go paint, write, crochet, read, play pickleball, return to the soccer field as a goalie, join a church league ball club or volunteer to coach. 

Unless you’re cautious, busyness will consume you. Luke 10:41-42 gives an example of how that’s been happening to all of us for 2,000 years. Jesus clarified what was significant when He responded to Martha’s complaint of Mary’s absence in the kitchen: “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Martha was so focused on serving her guests that she missed the opportunity to spend time with the Son of God! Subtract busyness from each day by reducing, eliminating and uncomplicating things. When you rid your day of the superfluous, you “find” time to focus on what matters to you: time for your morning devotion/prayer; time to listen to the concerns of your teenager; or your husband’s worry about that presentation he must give at work. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus simplified the importance of the Ten Commandments by zeroing in on two. (A Pharisee asked) “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you love God and love people, you’ll be so devoted to both that the other eight commandments will fall within those two categories.

Quality time with God is when you listen, when you connect. As you open up that space inside you, God will fill it with your purpose – who He created you to be -- with all the accompanying gifts and talents you may have never taken the time to develop. Start now. Strive for peace in your spirit, heart and body. As you declutter your closets, your kitchen, your living space, you are also purging the unnecessary things that create chaos in your life and in your mind.

When you have fewer material things to buy, store and search through, you may find more time to rest, relax and read the Word and/or your favorite devotional. Turn down the noise of the world. Your being still, being present and knowing He is God will fine-tune the Voice of the King of kings. He wants only to spend time with you, to take upon Himself the worries of your day and soothe those old emotional wounds. Then as you commune with the Creator of all things, He calms your life’s sometimes-stormy seas. You won’t fear drowning while the powerful grip of His hand is holding on to yours.   So, which voice will you listen to? The stressors of the world? Or will you just… Let Go and Let God?