No agenda… not filling our calendars… just go with the flow and live life outside, even in the heat!
Summer has a way of bringing mixed emotions.
When we were you get, summer seemed simple. Long days filled with sunshine and lots of water - pools, hose, water balloons. Popsicles melting faster than we could eat them. Bare feet in the grass or running quick on the pavement to the nearest shade spot! Time that seemed to stretch endlessly before us with those we cared most about.
As adults, especially as moms, summer can feel a little different.
We want to make memories. Everything we do is focused on that… We over plan the calendar. E cause we want to keep everyone entertained. We also have our responsibilities like the house being clean, the meals planned, the dreaded laundry folded and put away… Not to mention the effort we put into planning our vacations and making them meaningful… And somehow still keep up with work, ministry, friends and everything else life demands.
Before we know it, summer can become just as busy as every other season.
And if we're not careful, we can spend an entire summer rushing from one thing to the next without ever truly experiencing it…
This year, I’ve noticed a trend. There are so many of us longing for that slow “90s summer”. There are so many of us longing for that slow "90s summer." The kind where we left the house after breakfast and came home when the streetlights turned on. The kind where nobody was worried about optimizing every moment or documenting every memory. We were simply present.
I don't want to rush through these days. I don't want to spend all summer trying to create the "perfect" summer only to realize I was too distracted to enjoy it. I don't want my memories to be filled with hurry. I want something different… a little more nostalgic.. Maybe you can relate?
Let’s focus on presence, slow mornings, laughter around the dinner table. I want walks in the neighborhood, books read on the patio, conversations that aren't squeezed between obligations. I want to notice God in the ordinary moments and most of all, I want to walk at the pace of Jesus.
The older I get, the more I realize that rest isn't something we stumble into accidentally. It is something we intentionally make room for. The world tells us that more is better; more activities more accomplishments, more productivity, more packed calendars… But Jesus often invites us into less; less hurry, less striving, less pressure… His more looks like: more abiding, more listening, more trust.
Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God."
Notice that God doesn't ask us to do more so we can know Him better. He invites us to be still. Stillness creates space for awareness, to notice His presence. Space to hear His voice and to remember what matters most.
As I thought about this summer, I've realized I don't need a perfect schedule. In fact, schedules sometimes feel like rules, and if I'm honest, my rebellious side doesn't always love rules. What I need are rhythms. Rhythms create space without creating pressure.
It sounds great, right? I’m all about practicality. How can we make this work… For me, that looks like:
Starting most mornings with Jesus before reaching for my phone.
Taking walks when I can (it’s summer time in Phoenix AZ when it reaches up to 120* so this may end up on a walking pad inside)
Spending time outside, usually early morning when it’s still cooler
Reading books that nourish my soul.
Leaving margin in my calendar.
Protecting family time.
Choosing presence over perfection.
God often meets us in the small things. It doesn't have to be a two-hour quiet time or some huge spiritual achievement. Sometimes it's noticing a sunrise. Sometimes it's thanking Him while you fold laundry. Sometimes it's sitting outside with your coffee and simply being with Him.
What would happen if we didn’t do more but noticed more? Slowing down long enough to enjoy the people in front of us. Creating space for healing. Discovering that God's presence has been with us all along.
Friend, if you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, or stretched thin, consider this your permission slip:
You do not have to earn your rest! You do not have to fill every moment. You do not have to make this the most productive summer of your life. You are allowed to slow down. You are allowed to enjoy this season. You are allowed to breathe.
And perhaps in the slowing down, you'll discover what I've been learning:
God often speaks the loudest when we finally get quiet enough to listen.
Rest Practice of the Week
Spend ten minutes outside each day this week with no agenda, no productivity, no multitasking.
Simply sit with Jesus and notice what is around you.
Reflection Question
What would change if you stopped trying to make this a perfect summer and simply focused on being present?
Breath Prayer
Jesus, help me choose presence over pressure.
Closing Prayer
Father,
Thank You for the gift of this season. Help us resist the pressure to fill every moment and instead embrace the beauty of slowing down. Teach us to notice Your presence in ordinary days and simple moments. Give us the courage to choose rest, the wisdom to create margin, and the grace to enjoy the life You've placed in front of us.
Amen.
This post is part of my summer series on slowing down, healing deeply, and walking at the pace of Jesus. Next week we'll explore what it means to root our identity in Christ instead of our productivity, because true rest begins when we stop trying to earn what God has already freely given.
Let’s Keep in Touch this summer! Subscribe to not miss a post and find me on Instagram for daily encouragement @HeyHeatherCook!