The Isolation of Busyness

Recently I have had several conversations with people about busyness and isolation. I am seeing a pattern. It seems the busier we get the more isolated we become. Personally, over the last year I have felt very isolated and as I reflect over the last year I realize that I have also been very busy. I am busy doing good things, doing the work God has called me to and yet I wonder…

When a wolf is hungry he will stalk a herd of sheep and attack the one that has wondered away from the flock. A lion lays waiting in the tall grass near a herd of gazelle until she is able to find one that is alone. An army commander often tries to isolate a unit from the larger company in order to attack and destroy.

I wonder, wouldn’t my enemy do the same.

All of the examples of prey above were doing what they do, but they allowed themselves to become isolated. When we are isolated we become easy prey for the enemy.

I had a conversation with a young mom of three today who is very isolated and feeling discouraged. She’s  busy being a mom, doing what God has called her to do. Raising three little ones, with another on the way, is a good thing, but she is believing lies. Lies that the enemy uses to isolate her from sources of encouragement, help and growth.

As I reflect on my life I realize how easy it is to let the enemy make me feel that doing the work of God is more important than cultivating relationships. I am so busy doing that I forget to BE.

The words that God continues to speak into my heart is “Sharon I am about relationships”. But God…it’s hard. I’m tired. Honestly, I’ve given up. It’s easier to DO for God than to pursue relationships. But I am reminded that being busy doing is the easy road, it’s the safe road. And it hurts far less.

I do realize that there are times that God brings us to walk through a “desert experience” and we are in isolation for a time. But I think we need to be careful about choosing to believe every time we feel isolated that it’s God. I think our enemy fully understands the power of isolating believers from one another – whether it’s real or felt.

We need to be diligent in seeking the heart of God. Being sure we are in the place of God and not easy prey. God created us for relationships, first and foremost with Him. Our first priority must always be our relationship with our Father, then our relationship with those God has called us into. Then we can be “busy” doing the work of God.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Heb 3:13 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:24-25

Father help me to understand when YOU have called me into isolation to draw me closer to you or teach me something that can only be taught in isolation. Father help me to see the opportunities that you give me to reach out and serve others with an encouraging word or a cup of coffee. Father I do not want to be so busy doing your work that I forget that you desire for me to invest in souls. Father I am confused, I feel I have no answers, I feel so isolated, so busy and I long to just sit quietly for a moment and hear your voice.