The Urgency of Slowing Down

If Jesus took time away from the demands of life for stillness, rest, and prayer, shouldn’t His followers do the same?

Yet living in a whirlwind of constant motion is all too familiar. Our many responsibilities and relationships are important: we want to go to our child’s game and say yes to that assignment at work and help lead that group at church. But when we go, go, go at the world’s pace, the anxiety and burnout start to weigh on our souls.

Laura Smith invites you to pause, exhale, and explore what the Bible says about slowing down. With scriptural insights and relatable personal stories, Laura offers practical habits for resisting the hectic and holding on to the slow. Packed with different ways Christians over the centuries have tapped into the abundant life of Jesus, 24 short chapters lay out spiritual and physical practices such as prayer, Sabbath, saying no, gratitude, decluttering, celebration, and worship.

If you’re tired of the crazy pace of your life but don’t know how to get off the merry-go-round, The Urgency of Slowing Down is for you. Take a few minutes each day to read a chapter so you can learn to slow down right where you are to look for God, listen for His voice, and fill your heart and mind with His presence.

1. Opening Credits
2. Introduction: How It Started
3. Part 1: Rest
4. Chapter 1: On Running | Fast as Slow Rhythms
5. Chapter 2: Lighten Your Load | What Can You Let Go Of
6. Chapter 3: You Can Have All This World | Avoiding Worldly Measures
7. Chapter 4: Less Hype and More Happy | Releasing Expectations
8. Chapter 5: Il Giorno di Riposo | Sabbath
9. Chapter 6: The Art of Saying No | Simplify Your Schedule
10. Chapter 7: How Much Is Enough? | Decluttering
11. Chapter 8: What Sloths Can Teach Us | Slower Can Be Better
12. Chapter 9: Off the Grid | Setting Down Your Phone
13. Chapter 10: It Is Finished | Time to Move On
14. Part 2: Refuel
15. Chapter 11: Quiet Time | Silence and Solitude
16. Chapter 12: A Gorgeous Photo of Paris | Prayer
17. Chapter 13: Their Names Are Tricky | Reading the Bible
18. Chapter 14: Friday Mornings | Worship
19. Chapter 15: Without Singing a Note | Other Forms of Worship
20. Chapter 16: How Long Should You Look at the Sunset? | Receive Goodness
21. Chapter 17: Shake Mistakes | Biblical Fasting
22. Chapter 18: It's Just Practice | You Can Do It
23. Chapter 19: Charcuterie To Go | Savor the Flavor
24. Chapter 20: Magic Spot: Getting Outside
25. Chapter 21: Thank-You Notes | Gratitude
26. Chapter 22: Cymbals and Drumsticks | Celebration
27. Chapter 23: Ducking into a Cathedral | Slowing Down on the Go
28. Chapter 24: Running Around Central Park | Go Your Own Pace
29. Conclusion: Why Was This So Urgent?
30. Closing Credits