God Wants Us to Slow Down: A Lesson Learned From COVID-19

Hey there! Does life feel like it’s flying by way too fast? Do you forget to soak in every moment? If so, welcome to the club! I’ve always been the type of person to laugh when I’m told to slow down. I have places to go! People to see! Right?

Related: The Secrets to Sharing the Gospel During COVID-19

COVID-19

When the worldwide pandemic that is COVID-19 hit, I felt lost. I suddenly had all the time in the world and nothing to do with it. A wave of depression and a loss of motivation overwhelmed me and I was miserable.

I think COVID-19 forced all of us to slow down. Personally, I began to understand how much I had been taking for granted. My priorities became the gospel and family. Nothing else really mattered. Did you feel the same?

Honestly, I am beyond grateful for the way the pandemic forced me to get my life in order. I made some serious changes and learned so much about myself. My husband and I grew closer together and my testimony grew. I hope something similar happened to you.

Keeping the Faith

As I have started to see the world slowly open back up, a small bit of fear has crept in. Will I get lost in the whirlwind of life again? How can I hang on to the testimony I’ve gained? Are these new habits going to fade?

While pondering these questions, I have come up with a few ideas that could help. I would love to share them with you!

Accountability

First, find someone to be accountable to. When I was serving my mission, I found it much easier to succeed at my goals because I had a companion to keep me in check. Tell someone about your goals and ask them to follow up with you on a specific date!

Write it Down

Next, write down the things you want to accomplish. I find it helpful to keep them in a place I see often, like my fridge or bathroom mirror. Don’t allow yourself to forget the things you learned during this time!

Make the Time

Another idea I had is to schedule time for your personal and family life. Set aside specific times to meditate and reflect. It can be easy to say you’ll slow down, but having a set time can ensure that it actually happens.

Put God First

Lastly, make scripture study and prayer a top priority. Make sure it happens. I know it sounds cliche, but it’s so true. Even with the chaos happening in the world, I have never been happier. I know this is because of daily gospel study!

A Wise Thought

Heavenly Father definitely wants us to slow down. In fact, Elder Uchtdorf said,

My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most.

Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness.

They will teach us to do ‘all these things … in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby … win the prize.’

I pray that we will all hang on to the lessons we have learned during this crazy time. For many reasons, 2020 will be unforgettable. I hope one of those reasons is because you grew closer to God than ever before!

Related: 5 Tips for Ministering During a Pandemic

How are you going to continue to soak up every moment? Let us know in the comments below!