Why I’m Choosing to Slow Down This Year—and Let God Lead My Pace

It’s a new year already! How has 2025 ended and 2026 already been ushered in?! Wild.

The older I get, the faster time moves. I imagine that feels true for everyone. When we were children, summers seemed to last forever. Christmas didn’t feel rushed. Weekends were slow and full. Then I hit 30 and suddenly it feels like my life is flashing before my eyes and slipping through my fingers. Every time I turn around, another year has passed, my babies have grown overnight, and I have another white hair on my head. Can you relate?

Time goes so quickly, and I find myself desperately trying to hold on and slow it down—but it’s like trying to hug a waterfall. That analogy makes a lot of sense in my head, so I’m hoping it does to you too.

It’s January 3rd today, and while Christmas isn’t even finished yet (it’s 12 days, you know!), I already find myself planning my spring garden, dreaming about build projects around the property once the ground warms up, planning the Pretty & Wise fall conference that’s still nine months away, and thinking through summer vacation plans…

STOP.

I keep trying to gently remind myself to slllooooowwwwww ddoooowwwwnnnn. Maybe this is why things feel like they’re moving at the speed of light around here. I don’t slow down to enjoy the season I’m in. I rush ahead to the next season—or the next next season—with planning and hoping and dreaming.

The planning, hoping, and dreaming aren’t the problem… at least I don’t think they are. Unless they crowd out the time to sit, simmer, and savor the season I’m in right now.

Does this hit home for you?

We rush from one event to the next, from one season to the next, and then we turn around and it feels like life has passed us by. We haven’t truly enjoyed it. We haven’t sat with it or pondered it as it came. We miss being fully present with the people we love because our minds are already on what’s next—the schedule, the agenda, the plan.

This year, I’ve got a new word. A new focus. I didn’t even know what it was until this moment, but as I sit here hurriedly typing out all my racing thoughts about my racing life, the word is hitting me like a ton of bricks…

SLOW.

That’s my word for the year. That’s the word the Lord wants me to sit with, learn from, and ask Him about all year long. What does it mean to be slow the way He intends us to be slow?

I’ll give you three quick (haha) thoughts about the word slow that are stirring in my mind right now—but then I’m going to simmer on them for a while and ask the Lord to reveal more. We’ll see what changes over the year, how I grow, and what I learn.

Be slow to speak, slow to become angry.That’s biblical. James 1:19 tells us that. It’s a verse I’ll be ruminating on this year. In what ways do I need to slow my mouth and my temper? Much to my chagrin, I can already think of many. How about you?

“He makes me lie down in green pastures.”When I read Psalm 23, I don’t sense rush or hurry behind those words. It evokes stillness, quietness of soul, and rest in the presence of God. A trust so deep it doesn’t feel the need to get up, fix, or do—but simply be. I am not good at lying down in green pastures, but I think this year the Lord is going to make me do just that. I already see ways He’s opening the door for me to obey Him here. What about you?

Be a Mary before being a Martha.Notice I didn’t say never be a Martha. I think sometimes the Lord does want us up and busy about His work—but never at the expense of being in His presence. We have to stop and give Jesus our full attention. Fix our gaze solely on Him. Let the world grow dim. I’m committing to doing that more this year than ever before—less busy work, more beholding the Lamb of God. Do you need more of that too?

These are the things the Lord is bringing to my mind tonight as I sit here looking too far down the road at all the things that need to be done. I hear Him saying, “Slow down, daughter. Be with Me. Think of Me. Look at Me. I’ll tell you when to stand and go. I’ll tell you when to run hard and fast. But today—slow down. Sit with Me. Let Me guide your pace this year.”

What is the Lord saying to you as you look at the year ahead? Have you consulted Him about your plans, dreams, and hopes? Or is your calendar already filling up with all the things you “have to do” before you’ve had a conversation with your Lord?

Lord, help us ask You first. Help us stop running ahead with our plans and then asking for Your blessing. Teach us to sit at Your feet, listen to Your voice, and learn Your ways. Help us live slower lives—lives that aren’t so rushed we don’t have time for You. We want You to be our first moment each day, our guiding Spirit in every decision, and the One we seek first in all things. We are so slow to learn how to be slow. Teach us to move at Your pace and in Your ways. Help us to slow down this year. Thank You, Lord.