Hurry and stress are often treated as two different problems, but in reality, they’re closely linked. If stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed by the pressure of life, hurry is the frantic pace at which we try to outrun that pressure. When we live in a state of constant hurry, we’re essentially keeping our bodies and souls in a permanent state of “emergency mode,” which is the very definition of chronic stress.
The Physical and Spiritual Toll of Hurry
Biologically, hurry triggers a stress response. When you’re rushing to beat a red light or frantically checking your watch during a meeting, your brain doesn’t distinguish that from a real threat. It releases cortisol and adrenaline, keeping your heart rate up and your mind on edge. Spiritually, hurry is often a sign that we’ve stopped trusting God’s timing and have started relying on our own speed. As author John Ortman famously noted, “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life.” It’s impossible to be truly present with God or others when your mind is already ten miles down the road at your next appointment.
Hurry as a Symptom of Identity
We often hurry because we believe that our worth is tied to how much we can accomplish in a twenty-four-hour period. This “hectic stress” makes you feel like you’re being pulled in a thousand directions. You likely chose the things on your list because they matter to you, but when those things begin to drive your pace, they become your master. The Bible invites us to a different way of living. Instead of looking to your list of stresses to find your identity, you find it in Jesus. When your identity is secure in him, the frantic need to prove yourself through “hustle” begins to fade.
Matthew 11:28-30 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
The Myth of Hustle Culture
In today’s world, we’re constantly bombarded with the message of “hustle culture.” This mindset tells us that if we aren’t working, side-hustling, or optimizing every second of our day, we’re falling behind. It treats busyness as a badge of honor and suggests that our value is strictly tied to our output. However, this lifestyle often leads to “hurry sickness”—a state of constant anxiety where we feel we must move faster just to keep up. The Bible offers a counter-cultural truth: you were created for rhythm, not just results. God isn’t looking at your highlight reel or your completed checklist to decide if you’re worthy of his love.
Choosing a New Pulling Partner
The connection between hurry and stress is broken when we take on a new “pulling partner.” In the verse above, Jesus uses the imagery of a yoke. If you’re yoked to the expectations of the world, you’ll always be in a hurry because the world is never satisfied. But when you’re yoked to Jesus, you move at his pace. You start caring about the things he cares about, and your priorities begin to change. Jesus was never in a hurry, yet he completed the greatest purpose in history. By remaining in him, we find that we can be productive without being frantic.
John 15:5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
The Takeaway
Hurry is the fuel that keeps the fire of stress burning. While stress is the internal pressure we feel, hurry is the external pace that sustains it. By finding our identity in Christ and choosing to walk at his pace, we can trade our frantic hurry for his supernatural peace. We don’t have to do everything; we just have to do what he has called us to do, trusting that he is the one who ultimately produces the fruit in our lives.
