Walking at the Pace of Grace: Why We Don’t Have to Run

Have you ever noticed that Jesus never rushed?

He walked.

He paused.

He prayed.

And yet, He fulfilled every single assignment the Father gave Him.

In a world obsessed with hustle, deadlines, and the constant pressure to do more and be more, the life of Jesus offers us a sacred invitation: Slow down.

Walk with purpose, not panic.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus moved with a deliberate, unhurried rhythm.

He was never frantic, never reactive to the world’s demands.

Whether He was healing the sick, teaching the crowds, or withdrawing to quiet places to pray, Jesus modelled a life anchored in peace and deep trust.

John 17:4 captures His confidence near the end of His earthly life:

I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do.

He finished, not because He hurried, but because He walked closely with the Father.

So why do we think we have to run?

Why do we live as if rushing will somehow make us more successful, more significant, more accepted?

The truth is, the rush is often rooted in fear,

fear of missing out, fear of failure, fear of falling behind.

But Jesus shows us that the Kingdom of God doesn't operate on a frantic timeline.

It moves at the pace of grace.

It moves at the pace of obedience, trust, and relationship.

Isaiah 40:31 reminds us:

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Waiting comes before running.

Strength comes from stillness.

We don’t burn out when we follow His pace; we find endurance.

We don't fall behind when we pause to pray; we align ourselves with His perfect timing.

Recently, I was forced to literally slow down.

A foot injury had me in a moonboot and on crutches for six long weeks.

What started as sheer frustration, the disruption of my routine, the struggle to do basic tasks, the awkwardness of needing help, soon became something more.

It became an invitation.

An invitation to adapt.

To rest.

To let go of my pace and find His.

With every careful, slowed-down step, I became more aware, of His presence, of my limits, of what truly matters. That season reminded me that healing often happens in the waiting, and grace meets us when we’re not racing ahead, but when we’re simply being with God.

So maybe today, you just need permission to slow down.

You are not behind.

You are not late.

You are right on time for what God has prepared for you.

You are called to walk with Jesus, step by step, moment by moment.

To pause and notice the people around you.

To pray and align your heart with heaven.

And to trust that everything He has called you to will unfold in His perfect way and time.

You don’t have to run to fulfil your purpose.

You just have to walk faithfully with the One who knows the way.

So breathe deeply.

Release the rush.

Embrace the holy pace of grace.

He is never in a hurry, and neither do you have to be.

Thank You Lord for slowing me down, even when I didn’t ask for it.

Thank You for teaching me that Your grace meets me, not in my striving, but in my stillness.

Thank You for healing that goes deeper than the physical, healing that reaches the heart, the soul, and the pace of my life.