What if what you give up this Lent isn’t sugar, coffee, or social media, but busyness?
Lent is often associated with giving up things we enjoy, like chocolate, certain comforts, and small luxuries we’ve become attached to. But the real purpose of Lent is an invitation, not just a deprivation. It is the intentional removal of things that compete for our attention in order to make room for a deeper communion with God.
Many of us don’t even realize how addicted we are to physical activity. Our calendars are full, our phones are always ringing, and our minds are racing from one responsibility to the next. Even in moments for a break, we scroll. Plan. We are preparing. We are worried about tomorrow.
We wear fatigue like a badge of honor. Productivity is proof that we matter. To be honest, the idea of slowing down makes me more anxious than giving up sugar.
For many of us, the thing that competes most for our attention isn’t dessert. It’s distraction and rushing, the constant drive to stay productive and relevant.
That’s why busyness may be the most important thing to surrender this Lent.
It may seem strange to “give up” busyness. I feel like I need to be busy after all. Responsible person. It’s even admirable. But if we loosen our grip on life’s never-ending busyness, we may create space for God to change us in ways we didn’t realize we needed, far beyond the temporary gap.
Busyness is not the goal
We are obsessed with filling our lives with tasks and activities in order to be more productive and leave a lasting mark on the world. We crave purpose, even if we don’t articulate it as such. So we end up overloading our calendars, hoping that our busyness will turn into meaning.
I know this because it is an ongoing struggle in my own life. God gently exposed how easily I equated activity with influence. If I had done more, I would have achieved my goal. If I’m needed everywhere, I have to be valuable. However, the Bible questions that assumption. As the saying goes, this is foolish.
Jesus offers another perspective.
“If you hold on to your life, you will lose it; but if you lay down your life for me, you will save it” (Matthew 16:25, NIV).
We often interpret this verse in dramatic terms, but it also speaks to our quiet, everyday mental attitude. Christ has already given us a purpose, but we live as if it were ours. Our culture has secretly made us believe that influence equals importance. The more we stand out, the more we should be needed. But the Bible never equates frenzy with faithfulness. Jesus withdrew to pray. He did not meet all the demands placed on him. He moved at an obedient pace, not in a hurry.
Busyness convinces us that everything is essential. Surrender reminds us that not everything is assigned. Some are just distractions disguised as obligations.
If you try to secure your purpose by your own will, you will end up exhausted and exhausted. But when we first seek Jesus, our purpose is no longer something we construct in a hurry, but is revealed as we abide in Him.
“Seek above all things the kingdom of God…” (Matthew 6:33, NIV).
“Question” means to pursue something intentionally. The Kingdom of God is God’s rule and authority in our lives. We are called to seek the King, not the end.
How to forget about busyness
What happens if we shift our energy this Lent from constant activity to intentional exploration?
It will probably look unfamiliar. It might even make you uncomfortable.
The first step is surprisingly easy. Sit before God.
Grab a notebook and write down what a typical day looks like. Where do you go most of the time? What commitments are packed into your schedule? Be honest and don’t rush when evaluating your list.
The essence of surrender is trust. When we slow down long enough to evaluate our lives before the Lord, we are declaring that we trust the Lord to guide us wisely. The world doesn’t go off its axis just because we stop. In fact, our understanding of God’s sovereignty may become clearer than ever.
Sometimes surrender looks like intentional calm. And sometimes it’s okay to be interrupted. I have seen God time and time again prove that what seems urgent is not. In the end, everything that really needed to be done was accomplished. And sometimes the things I left undone were things I shouldn’t have had to carry in the first place.
Once you have prayerfully examined your schedule, submit it to the Lord. Ask God what you need to delete, rearrange, or reprioritize.
Much of what we do is good. Some are building kingdoms. But that may not be what God wants us to do during this special season. Fidelity is not measured by how much you can fit into a calendar. It is measured by obedience.
God is deeply aware of our limitations. God does not encourage us to burn out. God calls us to abide.
As you allow God to refine your commitments, consciously step away from space, a real, protected time to connect with God each day. These are moments of meaningful interaction, not hours rushed between obligations.
What can replace busyness?
When you let go of your obsession with constant productivity, something beautiful fills the gap. It’s a joy.
“Rejoice in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Give everything you do to him. Trust in him, and he will help you” (Psalm 37:4-5, NIV).
Rejoicing in the Lord is more than just a pleasant feeling. It is an intentional enjoyment of who God is. It is a meditation on the personality of God. It’s about remembering what God has done.
One of my favorite reminders of God’s creativity and care is in nature. When I go outside and observe the details of every living thing and recognize God’s intentional design, my soul focuses. It reminds me that the God who created such a beautiful world is fully capable of ordering my life without me desperately interfering.
In many ways, Lent is an invitation to the garden, a return to walking with God rather than running ahead of him.
We were not created to live on an exhausting merry-go-round of self-imposed urgency. We were created for communion. For trust. For pleasure. In Genesis, before sin destroyed the world, humanity was walking with God in the cool of the day. There was no striving for value. There is no enthusiastic proof. There is no hectic schedule. There was just a sense of presence.
Lent may not transport us back to the Garden of Eden, but it can offer us a taste of restored intimacy. Intentionally quieting the noise reminds us that God doesn’t need our busyness. He wants our hearts.
Slowing down is not laziness. It is an act of trust. It declares that God is Sovereign, fully able to handle what we release, and merciful enough to receive us in tranquility.
This Lent, consider giving up your busy schedule. Trust that you have permission to slow down. Believe that seeking Jesus is not a waste of time. The world will continue to move at a breakneck pace, but your soul doesn’t have to. Trust that when you make space for Him, He will accomplish far more than your busyness.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Dingzeyu Li
Vanessa Lu is a wife, mother, and faith-based writer. She speaks and writes to encourage believers to truly live with God.
