You may think hamsters are cute little furry animals that are absolutely adorable. For me, they bring two thoughts to mind:

First: RODENT!

They look way too much like a mouse or rat for me.

Second: that little hamster racing at breakneck speed while going absolutely nowhere.

Does that sound like something you can relate to?

Sometimes the things that keep us so busy are all good things. They just all take time and attention. But is being busy really a bad thing?

Okay, before you click delete, hear me out!

We absolutely need rest, and taking a Sabbath rest is biblical. But I have also been learning that there are times when busy is good.

When I start to complain to myself about being busy, I'm learning to stop and ask myself a few questions:

• Am I really too busy, or am I simply busy enough that I don't have time for things that aren't important?
• Do I believe God has called me to do what I am doing right now, or have I added things to my to-do list without asking Him?
• What would I be doing right now if I weren't doing the things that are keeping me so busy?
• Would that "something else" actually help me grow spiritually or serve God?

One of the things that has kept me especially busy over the last few months has been preparing Savor's Armor of God Bible Study.

And when I look back and ask myself those questions, I realize something:

I can replace the word BUSY with PRODUCTIVE.

Preparing the study took a lot of time. There were scripts to write, videos to record and edit, a Companion Journal to create, and plenty of details to work through. But when I step back and look at what God was doing through all of it, I don't see wasted time.

I see purpose.

Proverbs 19:21 says,

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

I find I get too busy when I try to juggle everything without asking the Holy Spirit to direct my path.

But I find I am productive when my plans are aligned with the purpose of the Lord.

There is a difference.

God does not want me frantic, exhausted, and constantly running on empty. He does want me to rest. He does want me to slow down and listen to Him.

But He also wants me to be about His purpose.

So maybe the next time you feel like that little hamster running as fast as you can while getting nowhere, stop and ask:

Am I busy—or am I being productive for God's purposes?

Sometimes the answer may be that it's time to slow down.

And sometimes, you may discover that you're running hard because God has given you something worth running toward.

Either way, let's make sure we're running His race, not just running on our own little hamster wheel.

Father, thank You for helping me discover the joy of being productive for Your purpose while also heeding Your call to rest in You. I pray that every woman reading this finds the balance You have for her in her everyday life. Help me put on my armor each day so that I can live with purpose for You. In Jesus' name, amen.