What If Less Is Actually More?

If the devil can’t take you out, he’ll try to speed you up. 

I heard this recently on a podcast (you can catch mine here too), and it stopped me in my tracks. It’s not the first time I’ve heard something like it, but this time it struck a deeper chord: “If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.”

I wonder, how many of us are caught in that whirlwind right now? Chasing goals, juggling commitments, racing from one thing to the next—convinced that we’re moving forward but losing sight of what’s most important. 

I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve been there. Even now, as I reflect on my milestone of turning 50, I realize that despite my best intentions, I’ve sometimes mistaken movement for meaning. You see, one of my biggest goals at this stage of life is to work less, but to work with more purpose. To cement a legacy that glorifies God by bringing as many people to Christ as I can—helping authors, leaders, and ministries amplify their message.

But here’s the irony: when I get going on my goals, I really get going. Conferences. Meetings. Travel. Hustling from one big vision to the next. And I’ve come to realize, sometimes what we call progress is just noise. We’re busy, but are we being purposeful? We’re achieving, but are we truly aligned with God’s will?

It’s a sobering thought. How many moments have we missed because we were too wrapped up in “doing” to actually “be”? Too busy working for the Kingdom to sit quietly with the King?

Friend, this is a gentle nudge for both of us. Just because we’re productive doesn’t mean we’re living out God’s purpose for our lives. Productivity can never replace intimacy with Him. If you’re buried in writing, promoting, managing a ministry, or caring for your family—pause. Just for a moment.

Imagine Jesus extending His hand to you, like He did for Peter when he started sinking in the stormy waters. In all the noise of life, are you reaching out to Him? Or are you trying to keep your head above water on your own?

Here’s what I want to encourage you (and myself) to do this week: Take a step back. Quiet the noise. What’s one thing you can focus on this week? Just one. Let everything else take a back seat—the tasks, the emails, the deadlines that aren't urgent. Instead, use that time to reconnect with God.

Read His word. Pray. Worship. Go for a walk and marvel at His creation—the trees, the sky, the laughter of a child. Let His presence fill you in those moments. Let Him remind you that He is with you, not in the busyness, but in the stillness. I truly believe that when we make space for Him, He fills us with the strength and clarity we need to truly make an impact.

The truth is, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do isn’t adding more to your to-do list. It’s choosing to step away from it. To prioritize your relationship with the Lord above everything else.

So this week, I challenge you to focus on one thing. Just one. Then spend the extra time with Jesus—whether it’s through prayer, fasting, or simply sitting in His presence. You might just find that by slowing down, you’re able to accomplish far more than you ever could in the rush.

What will you let go of this week? And how will you draw closer to Him in the stillness?

Let’s pursue purpose over productivity together, 

Tam