PDF Summary:The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer

You wake up, gulp down your coffee while speed-reading the news, and half-listen to a podcast during your rushed morning commute. You spend your workday juggling tasks before finally returning home and sinking into the couch, your brain fried and your heart pounding.

If any aspects of this scene describe your typical day, you know what it’s like to rush through life. In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, pastor and author John Mark Comer explores our cultural obsession with rushing and examines how it harms our relationships, health, sense of purpose, and spirituality. He argues that you can escape this culture of rushing by following the lifestyle of Jesus. In this guide, we’ll present Comer’s insights on how to stop rushing by deepening your Christian spiritual practice. You’ll learn how to carve out more time for your spiritual practice and enjoy slowing down your life. Along the way, we’ll compare Comer’s ideas to those of other scholars and offer additional steps you can take to stop hurrying.

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Physical health: According to Comer, a rushed lifestyle also harms your physical health. When you’re rushing, you make less time for quality sleep, exercise, and healthy eating. Failing to meet these basic needs also increases your chances of getting sick.

(Shortform note: Mental health and physical health are closely linked. Research shows that chronic psychological stress, such as that caused by rushing, can also be bad for your heart. While Comer’s solutions are largely spiritual, health experts tend to recommend other stress management strategies, such as exercise, rest, and “scheduling the worry”: assigning stressful tasks to predetermined periods in the day.)

Peril 4: A Lack of Purpose

Finally, Comer says that when you’re rushing, you lose your sense of purpose in life. Meaningful experiences give your life purpose, but you can’t fully engage in such experiences if you’re preoccupied with meaningless tasks. For example, perhaps it’s one of your long-term goals to publish a science fiction trilogy. However, your rushed lifestyle leaves you exhausted in the evening and on weekends, so you engage in meaningless distractions instead of writing.

(Shortform note: Even if you don’t live a rushed lifestyle, finding your purpose can be challenging. In Ikigai, Héctor García and Francesc Miralles provide guidance on finding your life purpose by exploring the Japanese concept of ikigai. According to ikigai, your life purpose falls at the intersection of what you love, what the world needs, what you’re good at, and what you can be paid for.)

The Remedy: Follow Jesus’s Lifestyle

Now that we’ve explored the perils of rushing and why we rush, let’s turn to Comer’s solution. He argues that you can prioritize meaningful experiences and commit to a life free of rushing by following the lifestyle of Jesus. According to the Bible’s four gospels—which amount to Jesus’s biography—Jesus had a lively lifestyle, not a rushed one.

(Shortform note: Scholars debate whether the gospels are an accurate biography of Jesus. For instance, in Zealot, Reza Aslan argues the gospels may not be trustworthy because they were written years after most of the events they detail. Aslan says that according to other historical records and accounts of Jesus’s life, Jesus was likely more of a radical revolutionary than the gospels depict him to be. By contrast, in The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel shares Comer’s view that the gospels are biographies of Jesus. Citing research by Craig Blomberg, Strobel says that three of the four gospels do count as trustworthy eyewitness accounts because they were written toward the end of Jesus’s life, as well as suggesting that the gospels may have been written earlier than the scholarly consensus says.)

We’ll begin this section by looking closely at a particular passage of the Bible, one in which Jesus calls upon his believers to follow his lifestyle. Then we’ll present Comer’s insights on how to model your lifestyle after Jesus’s.

Jesus’s Call to Follow His Lifestyle

Comer emphasizes a particular passage from the Bible, Matthew 11:28-30, that sheds light on Jesus’s hope that his followers adopt his lifestyle: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Let’s explore Comer’s interpretation of two specific lines from this passage.

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Comer says that here, Jesus acknowledges that life’s burdens wear people out spiritually, mentally, and physically. He invites them to experience rest from these burdens.

(Shortform note: Theologian Albert Barnes offers two alternative interpretations for Matthew 11:28. First, Jesus may have been saying these lines to Jewish people who were burdened by strict religious traditions. According to this interpretation, Jesus is specifically inviting them to free themselves from the burden of following these strict traditions. Second, Jesus may have also been speaking specifically to sinners who were burdened by the guilt of their sins. According to this interpretation, his promise to give them rest is a promise for forgiveness and salvation.)

Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” A yoke is a beam that rests across the shoulders of a pair of oxen, enabling them to pull weight. Comer argues that Jesus is saying that he’s figured out a method—symbolized by the yoke—to make life more bearable. You can achieve this same result by mimicking his method.

(Shortform note: Another writer offers a slightly different interpretation of this line: that Jesus is contrasting the heavy yoke of strict religious traditions, as described above, with his easier way of practicing religion. This writer explains that the Pharisees and Sadducees (members of Jewish sects) enforced over 600 religious laws—laws that Jesus felt were too burdensome. In Matthew 22:40, Jesus instead offers only two laws to follow: 1) Love God, and 2) love people.)

According to these passages, Jesus urged his followers to mimic his lifestyle—but what was his lifestyle, specifically? In the remainder of this guide, we’ll highlight three habits that allowed Jesus to live a meaningful lifestyle free of rushing, and we’ll explore how you can mimic his lifestyle even in modern times.

Habit 1: Slow Your Daily Tempo

First, according to Comer, you can mimic Jesus’s lifestyle by slowing the tempo of your daily life. We’ll begin this section by describing the pace of Jesus’s lifestyle; then, we’ll explore why and how you might model the pace of your life after his.

Jesus’s Daily Tempo

The idea that Jesus’s life was slow-paced and free of rushing may surprise you. Comer says that most people think of Jesus as someone who rushed from town to town, healing the sick and preaching to as many people as he could. However, Comer explains that this portrayal is inaccurate: Jesus never rushed in his endeavors. For instance, he took his time visiting and healing the sick.

(Shortform note: Why do we have this idea that Jesus’s lifestyle was rushed? One writer says that the way the Bible is written may give this impression. Verses like Mark 1:21-45 are packed with summaries of everything Jesus was up to, from healing the sick to speaking to crowds, and these verses often use words like “immediately” that convey a sense of rushing.)

Why You Should Slow Your Daily Tempo

How will it benefit you to follow Jesus’s example and slow the tempo of your daily life? Comer explains that slowing the pace of your daily life increases your patience. If you eliminate the pressure of speed, you’ll no longer feel impatient when events in everyday life take a while. Comer insists that increased patience will improve your health, relationships, and spirituality. Let’s further explore each of these benefits.

First, patience helps you feel more relaxed. When you move at a slower pace, you’re less stressed, and this is good for your mental health.

(Shortform note: Exercise may be a way to accomplish this same goal. In addition to boosting your physical health, exercise can relax you and support your mental health. Physical movement stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals that make you feel relaxed and optimistic—two emotions that also boost your mental well-being.)

Second, when you’re more patient, you treat others better. This improves your relationships. For instance, you won’t snap at your server if they take a while to bring out your food at a restaurant, and you won’t get angry at your child when they take a while to complete their chores.

(Shortform note: Learning to be more patient may be particularly important if you’re a caregiver for one or more seniors. Older people sometimes resist caregiving because it involves accepting that they’re less independent than they used to be, and managing this resistance requires patience. In addition to following Comer’s advice, you can have patience when caring for seniors by 1) offering help rather than making demands, and 2) taking care of yourself so you can remain calm and gentle (which keeps your relationship positive) if the senior you’re helping resists some of your efforts.)

Third, patience provides you with opportunities for spiritual contemplation. While you’re waiting patiently—such as standing in a long line at the post office—you’ll have the opportunity to pray to God. This will improve your relationship with him.

(Shortform note: In addition to increasing the quantity of your spiritual contemplation by following Comer’s advice, you may be able to improve the quality by being patient with yourself. In The Book of Joy, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu describe the ability to pray as a muscle that you need to build. Deep prayer and meditation don’t come naturally to most—these types of contemplation take time, effort, and patience.)

Patience May Also Boost Happiness and Productivity

In Four Thousand Weeks, Burkeman shares Comer’s assertion that it’s worthwhile and possible to gradually increase your patience for slow-paced moments in life, and he adds that increasing your patience in everyday life specifically improves your happiness and your productivity.

First, Burkeman explains that when you no longer expect yourself to be speedy—in other words, when you treat yourself with patience—you free yourself from others’ expectations of you. This freedom boosts your happiness.

Second, he explains that people who are patient avoid rushing through tasks, and in doing so, they avoid burnout. Burnout halts productivity; by avoiding it, you can stay productive.

How to Live a Slow-Paced, Patient Lifestyle

How can you experience the benefits of a slow-paced, patient lifestyle? Comer recommends gamifying patience: making a joyful game out of slowing down. He says that gamification will motivate you to slow down your life.

(Shortform note: Some research supports Comer’s claim that gamification boosts motivation; for instance, one study found that gamification in classrooms improves motivation and learning.)

For example, Comer suggests that you make a game of reducing your phone use. Phone addictions make you rush because phones pack your day with meaningless activities (such as fast-paced games and checking social media alerts). Therefore, reducing your phone use through gamification can slow you down and make your life more meaningful. Comer says you can do so by creating phone-related rules and challenging yourself to follow those rules.

(Shortform note: While Comer discusses how reducing your phone use can slow down your life, he doesn’t explore in depth the connection between phone use and patience. Some research suggests that frequent smartphone use is linked to impatience and impulsive behavior. However, this research looks at correlation rather than causation—in other words, it doesn’t explore whether impatience and impulsivity cause frequent smartphone use or whether smartphone overuse causes impatience and impulsivity.)

Comer suggests that you make a game of only engaging with technology during specific, scheduled times. Consider scheduling one time of day when you can check social media and another time when you can check your email. That way, you won’t waste too much time on either action. Comer says you can make this a game by setting ambitious rules and challenging yourself to stick to them—for example, setting the rule that you can only check social media from 5 to 6 p.m.

(Shortform note: Comer’s advice on limiting your technology use may be easier to follow with the help of apps that personalize the process of restricting your phone use. For instance, the app Offtime creates different modes on your phone, such as a “work mode” and a “family mode.” Each mode allows access to only some phone functions at certain times, which may make it easier to use your phone time wisely—for instance, not checking social media when it’s your email-checking time.)

Habit 2: Honor the Sabbath

In addition to slowing the overall pace of your everyday life, Comer says you should slow down for a full day every week—the Sabbath. This day provides an opportunity to take a break from your usual, rushed routine (such as work and chores) so you can engage in slow-paced, meaningful, and spiritual experiences.

(Shortform note: Across several cultures and religions, people devote at least one day of the week to intentionally slowing down and engaging in meaningful, spiritual activities. For example, many Jewish people observe Shabbat, a stretch of time (usually from Friday to Saturday evening) spent enjoying a special meal and engaging in prayer and blessings. Some who observe Shabbat also refrain from work and chores, such as shopping, on these days.)

We’ll begin this section by exploring why Jesus honored the Sabbath, as you may be inspired by his example. Then, we’ll discuss how you can best honor the Sabbath.

How Jesus Honored the Sabbath

The Gospels reveal that Jesus regularly honored the Sabbath. According to Comer, Jesus did so for multiple reasons. First, he did so to obey God’s commandment. One of God’s Ten Commandments is “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). By “keeping it holy,” God meant taking a break from your typical routine to spend the day worshiping him.

(Shortform note: In The Purpose Driven Life, pastor Rick Warren says that obeying God goes hand-in-hand with trusting God: It’s easier to obey God’s commandments if you trust that he knows what’s best for you and has a plan for you. In this case, trusting that God believes it’s good for you to break from your typical routine will help you honor the Sabbath day.)

Second, Jesus honored the Sabbath to experience enjoyment. When the Pharisees critiqued Jesus and his followers for how they spent their Sabbath, Jesus replied, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Comer interprets this line to mean that God created the Sabbath as a gift for us to enjoy.

(Shortform note: Comer doesn’t explore the full context for this line—why did the Pharisees critique the way Jesus and his followers spent their Sabbath? According to one Christian author, the Pharisees were known for enforcing strict rules for how to spend the Sabbath. They objected to how Jesus and his followers spent one particular Sabbath: walking through fields and gathering grain to enjoy eating. Prior to saying “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” Jesus reminded the Pharisees of the time when David ate and shared bread that only high priests were permitted to eat. Then Jesus told the Pharisees that David’s choice wasn’t unlawful because he was taking care of himself and others. Thus, Jesus implied that he resisted worship focused on rules, instead preferring worship focused on enjoyment and self-care.

Third, Jesus honored the Sabbath to continue a tradition of resisting oppression. The Old Testament explains this connection between honoring the Sabbath and fighting oppression: Moses delivers the Ten Commandments to an audience of slaves who escaped Egypt, and the commandment about the Sabbath reads: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day” (Deuteronomy 5:15). According to Comer’s interpretation of this passage, this commandment frames rest as a form of resistance against oppression.

Resting as a Form of Resistance Against Racial Oppression

In Rest Is Resistance, poet and activist Tricia Hersey echoes this idea that resting is a strategy for resisting oppression, and she explores how this message is particularly relevant to people of color.

First, Hersey explains that people of color are especially in need of rest. She explains that white supremacy and capitalism exploit people of color as a means to increase production, both historically (such as through chattel slavery) and today—for example, consider how people of color are overrepresented in low-wage jobs. This exploitation leaves people of color exhausted spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Hersey frames rest as a way to resist this exploitation. She explains that while she was in seminary school, she learned that her body is a “deep reflection of God” and that she must treat her body well by resting properly. She says that people of color can treat their bodies well and resist the systems that exploit them by demanding rest. This might mean, for example, carving out time for regular naps or saying “no” when asked to take on too many responsibilities.

How to Honor the Sabbath

How can you honor the Sabbath, as Jesus did? Comer says you should make it the most enjoyable day of the week, one you consistently look forward to. By making the Sabbath enjoyable, you’ll want to observe it, and it’ll feel easier to observe. For example, spend your Sabbath praying to God, tending your garden, listening to your favorite Christian rock album, or enjoying a slow-paced meal with members of your parish.

How Easy and Fun Should It Be to Follow Jesus?

Comer offers strategies that make it easier and more fun to follow Jesus’s habits, such as using gamification to slow your daily tempo and ensuring the Sabbath is an enjoyable day.

Comer’s emphasis on fun and ease contrasts with the approach of some other Christian pastors. For instance, in The Cost of Discipleship, pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that Christians should follow Jesus by voluntarily adopting difficult lifestyles. He explains that Christ’s life was characterized by suffering, and therefore the best way to follow him is to mimic his suffering. For instance, Bonhoeffer recommends that Christians voluntarily fast and commit to a life of poverty.

While this suffering is meant to be difficult, Bonhoeffer says that it improves your life. First, suffering makes you more virtuous. By denying yourself pleasures (such as food), you’ll improve your capacity for resisting the temptation to sin. Second, suffering makes you less worried. By living a life of poverty, for instance, you’ll free yourself from the fear of loss. If you lack material possessions, you don’t have to worry that a disaster (such as war or a house fire) could destroy what you hold dear.

Despite these differences, Comer’s and Bonhoeffer’s approaches also overlap. For instance, both pastors emphasize the importance of developing a personal relationship with God through prayer.

Habit 3: Protect Your Lively Lifestyle

So far, we’ve discussed how to live a less rushed, more meaningful lifestyle by following Jesus’s daily tempo and honoring the Sabbath as he did. But how can you maintain these habits as new obligations and opportunities threaten to make your days more rushed or encroach on your spiritual practice?

Comer insists that you must protect your lively lifestyle by regularly turning down opportunities that you don’t have the time or the capacity for. Doing so will allow you to focus on the things that really matter—your health, relationships, connection to God, and life purpose.

For inspiration on turning down opportunities, look to Jesus. According to Comer, Jesus set boundaries to prevent additional obligations from making his lifestyle rushed. For instance, he refused several invitations to preach when those opportunities conflicted with his scheduled prayer time.

(Shortform note: By refusing invitations to preach so he could pray, Jesus opted to commit to one spiritual activity fully, instead of packing his schedule with multiple spiritual activities. This example of boundary-setting may be particularly useful for Christians and church leaders who tend to overcommit to spiritual endeavors. In An Unhurried Life, pastor Alan Fadling explains that Christians today tend to see their ability to pack their schedules with worship-related activities as a testament to their faithfulness. Fadling advises Christians to remember that God appreciates the devotion behind their many worship-related activities, but prefers it when they’re engaged in a slower, more intentional connection with him—as Jesus did.)

Tips for Turning Down Opportunities

It can be challenging to turn down opportunities, especially ones that sound fun and meaningful. In Essentialism, Greg McKeown offers several tips for saying “no” to new opportunities:

Consider opportunity costs. It’s easier to say “no” when you identify what you’d miss out on by saying “yes.” For instance, say your friend invites you to take a surfing class with them—but each session would require a two-hour commute to and from the beach. Think about what you could do instead of driving, like attending church or playing with your kids.

Separate people from their requests. When someone asks you to do something for or with them, you may worry that saying “no” will make them feel rejected. Remember that the person making the request is more than their request—you can say “no” and maintain your close connection to them. For instance, tell your friend, “I can’t commit to the class because the commute is too long, but let’s still plan to get together weekly somewhere closer to home.”