Sloooooow Down!
We’ve subcontracted an IT company at work. One of the requirements for all employees is to watch Cyber Security Training Videos.
I’ve learned that when you have received a suspicious email or have clicked a suspicious link, one of the key things to do is to slooooow doooown.
Don’t just delete it. Don’t freak out. Don’t close your computer. There are good reasons for this, as well as next steps, but that’s where it starts. Slowing down before hurrying to action is one thing that sets you up for a safe resolution.
Besides, when you slow down and think about it, hurrying is overrated. After all…
- Hurry leads to worry.
- Hurry leads to unhealthy choices.
- Hurry leads to under-achievement & diminished results.
- Hurry makes life blurry.
Slowing down is one of the big things I am hearing from God these days as my body heals from my second surgery on my quadricep tendon rupture, which occurred last month. And actually, my surgeon is saying the same thing. He’s saying that slower is better than faster in this case. But keep in mind that…
- Slowing down does not mean completely stopping.
- Slowing down does not mean not working hard.
- Slowing down does not mean going slow indefinitely.
This “construction zone” speed (which sometimes feels like a “school zone” speed) that God has me in is testing me. These Scriptures come to mind:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1: 2-4 NIV).
I’ll be honest with you. These Scriptures are easier to preach than to practice.
If the outcome of the testing through trials of many kinds is perseverance, then I must live through the test with the right attitude and perspective.
I’ve learned to understand that sometimes you have to groan to grow. Sometimes you just have to get through “it” to get where you need to go.
But first, I have to get my attitude right. It’s fine to have a good cry, but at some point, I need to figure out how to move forward and learn what God wants me to learn by passing the test.
How can I pass this test?
I’m a work in progress, and here’s the process I am working through. Maybe it will resonate with you, too.
- Acknowledge my current situation. Take an honest look at what I’m experiencing. Acknowledge what has happened. Admit that I’m being tested.
For me, I must acknowledge, “I am injured and have had surgery. I was on a healing path, doing everything the doctors and therapists were telling me to do–even under their supervision. Then I re-injured my leg during physical therapy and had to have a do-over surgery. I did nothing wrong. God allowed this. This was not something that surprised God, even though it indeed surprised me.”
- Accept my situation. What I am going through is real, and it will affect my life for several months to come.
That doesn’t mean I give in and just roll over. But it does mean I cannot deny my circumstances either. I must accept my limitations, energy level and need for additional rest, dependence on others, and the prioritizing of getting well.
This is not an easy task when you’re someone who likes to do things and gets a nice endorphin bump when I achieve something. Once I accept, “It is what God says it is,” then I can take appropriate action.
- Adjust accordingly. First, pray for wisdom, then adapt my schedule. Re-set my expectations. Slowing down allows for purposeful decisions about how I will spend my time and energy, as well as any creative approaches in light of my current situation.
- Announce clearly. Not to the whole world, but definitely to the people who need to know. I’ve got to communicate my adjusted schedule and priorities. I can't just assume people can read my mind or magically know why I said “not this time” to a request that I always said “yes” to in the past.
- Assess after some time passes, then re-adjust accordingly. Whatever test I am experiencing, whatever season I am in, while it may feel long, it is undoubtedly not forever. It seems wise that after some time, as I endure and progress, I re-evaluate and start the whole process again. I am meeting with my surgeon this week. I can assure you that if he lifts my current restrictions, I will make adjustments accordingly.
I trust my story will encourage you in whatever you are going through. You can press through and pass the test in front of you–but you may need to slooooow doooown.