Twenty-four hours never feels like enough. If only we had more time! A couple extra hours a day could make all the difference. Or maybe an extra day in the week just to catch up, right? You might be juggling family time, social commitments, work demands, health goals, business ambitions, school assignments, relationships, and kiddos. Need we list more?

The problem with busy is that it’s often rooted in anxiety and worry. We might multitask out of fear we’ll let others down or because we struggle with letting others help. Or we might derive our value from an overpacked, overwhelmed schedule and wear our busy schedule as a sense of identity. If we’re not careful the results of our busyness can lead to pride.

We’ve grown into a generation reliant on gadgets to get us instant results so we can “do it all,” but Psalm 39 says, “We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.”

Merely moving shadows. Rushing ends in nothing. The Bible makes it clear that all our scurrying is in vain. The Lord has ordered our days and is ultimately in control.

Before you go quit your job and resign from all your responsibilities, notice that the Bible never said being productive with our time is a bad thing. Work is actually one of our God-given functions. But even a busy-body can make worshipping God feel more like work than rest. A good heart might schedule time to read the Bible, join a LifeGroup, and commit to serving in church, but when the time comes, an overloaded soul cancels—suggesting another time when life doesn’t feel so busy.

Our productivity will not earn God’s approval. Here are three truths to help you re-prioritize your lists today:

1. God will accomplish through you what He needs to accomplish in the time available. You can’t make your days longer. Do your best, and leave God with the rest.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Job 38:4,12 NLT

2. We are created to be in God’s presence. As humans, we have a biological need for consistent rest and refreshment. Making time to rest in the Lord can be challenging, but there is rejuvenating power in pausing to be with our Maker.

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 NLT

3. We will always benefit with God’s presence. When we turn to God, He puts our days in perspective and it helps us prioritize the important stuff. Our worries can find rest and quiet strength in God’s Word for those situations when we feel weak.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 ESV

For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:37 ESV

As God’s children, we don’t have to hustle to make things happen. His love for us goes beyond all the busyness. His help extends past our limits. In God’s eyes, your worth is not measured by your work. Your value, your significance is simply based on who the He is.

Is there a commitment you need to let go of to get your priorities right with God? Just remember, sitting at the feet of Jesus is for your benefit. God honors us when we honor Him with our time.