If you’ve known me long enough, you’ve heard me speak of a great Bible teacher named Sue Wiatt. She wrote a book of poetry and prayers and often said, “Hurry is a sin and worry is a sin!” I love the following piece she wrote about 30 years ago. It is still so pertinent in the 21st century. Take a look:
“Are you too busy, Child of God,
To minister to those in need
Of only a visit, a joyous word,
Your time and attention? A seed
You could sow then and there, you know.
I always have time for you.
Have I ever said, ‘Too busy am I’?
Have I ever listened with a hint of a sigh?
Have I ever excuses made?
Have I ever truth waylaid?
Forget about time, how busy you be.
Think only of Me and the need you see.
Why rush about, worry, and stew?
I am who gives the time; ’tis a fortunate few
Who live in My now—eternal and free.
Where time is nothing—life is to be
Lived in the present. Forget about time.
Do not hurry and worry if you would be Mine.
Give to each soul the time he does take.
I Am, who makes souls—the time surely can make.”
Sue had a way of putting her finger directly on the pulse of our frantic, overstuffed lives. This poem isn’t just about scheduling or slowing down—it’s about trust. It’s about remembering that God is never hurried, never overwhelmed, never sighing at our neediness or our interruptions. If anything, He invites us into a pace shaped by His presence rather than our pressure.
In a world where everyone seems to be sprinting from one thing to the next, Sue reminds us that the Kingdom is found in the unhurried moments: in listening, in loving, in giving someone the gift of our time. God makes time for us, so we can make time for others. And when we step into that rhythm, we discover that the pace of grace is always enough.
God bless you~
James
Rev. James A. Williams
Senior Pastor
Grace Resurrection Methodist Church