How to Know When to Slow Down and Listen to Jesus: Embracing the Sacred Slow

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.

Luke 10:39–40 (NIV)

The Sacred Slow

I tend to live in two extreme gears: full throttle or completely chill. Hot or cold. Lukewarm doesn’t tend to exist in my vocabulary or lifestyle.

It doesn’t matter what personality profile you relate to—Myers-­Briggs, DISC, Working Genius. The truth remains: welcoming Jesus in and embracing the sacred slow is a necessary, daily choice.

Mary and Martha were both right. Martha’s work was holy; she was serving Jesus and His disciples. And Mary’s choice was holy too, and it was the better thing, in that moment. We can live in both spaces. The key is knowing when to shift into the sacred slow and sit at the feet of the One who restores our soul.

Unsustainable Stress

While writing this devotional, I found myself sitting in urgent care with one of my closest friends. For three days straight, I’d been having consistent heart palpitations. It felt like someone was reaching into my chest and squeezing my heart like a stress ball. Deep down, I knew what was causing this. This was stress, no question.

It was supposed to be the “Year of Home,” of slowing down, of shifting rhythms and finding rest. But somehow, I found myself in the least restful month of the entire year, because my family and I were in the middle of moving, I was trying to hit writing deadlines, preaching back-­to-­back during first Wednesday and weekend services, and holding down the home front while my husband traveled.

I was operating under unsustainable stress.

Maybe you are too.

Two Powerful Questions

And not just that, maybe you don’t even know where to start to make a change, simply because of overwhelm. A friend of mine often asks me two powerful questions: (1) What fills you? and (2) What drains you?

If we can answer those honestly, we’ll get better at knowing when it’s time to pause, find margin, and shift our rhythms to match the season we’re in. We’ll begin to say yes and no with clarity and conviction. This is an important area of our lives to welcome Jesus into.

Here’s what that looks like in my life.

What Fills Me

  • slow mornings
  • family time
  • a good book

What Drains Me

  • too much social time without space to recharge
  • striving
  • people-­pleasing

Mary’s posture at Jesus’s feet wasn’t casual; it was the posture of a disciple. In moments where I’m overly drained and close to living on empty, I find that I need loving discipleship from Jesus. And oftentimes, stealing away, clearing the noise, and slowing down enough to draw near to Jesus is the “one thing” that will shift everything.

In His Word

Psalm 23:1–3 (NIV):

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

Pray this with me today:

Jesus, teach me how to slow down in a world that celebrates busyness. Help me to create room in my soul to breathe, to hear Your whisper, and to walk in step with Your Spirit. Whether I’m surrounded by people or tucked away in solitude, may I choose the better thing—­to welcome You in, sit at Your feet, and listen.

Lead me beside quiet waters, restore my soul, and remind me once again that even when I’m not producing a single thing, I am deeply loved. Amen.

In Your Life

If you were completely honest with yourself, where do your rhythms (e.g., sleep patterns, eating habits, exercise, friendships) need to shift? Are there good things you’re saying yes to that are crowding out the better thing?

We Recommend

We recommend the devotional One Thing: 21 Devotions to Clear the Noise and Draw Near to Jesus by Andi Andrew. Thoughtful, vulnerable, and encouraging, this 21-day devotional invites you to pause, breathe, and encounter Jesus in the chaos. Through the story of Mary and Martha, you’ll discover how to intentionally welcome Jesus in and listen at His feet.

Interested in more on this topic? Check out How to Have a Quiet Time When You Have No Time.

Let’s Connect

Andi Andrew is the author of She Is Free, Fake or Follower, Friendship–It’s Complicated, and Braving Change, as well as the host of the Coffee with Andi podcast. Her heart is to see the gospel bring lasting transformation to the everyday lives of people around the world. Andi and her family live in Charleston, South Carolina, where they are planted at Seacoast Church. Connect with Andi online on Instagram!