The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: Permission to step off the treadmill

Digital Faith Engagement Officer Jess McKie reviews The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.

‘Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day.’ The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is a wake-up call for those of us who have normalised living in a constant state of busyness. Its central message is simple but uncomfortable: hurry is killing our souls.

John Mark Comer is careful to point out that this isn’t just about having too much to do – that’s often outside our control. Instead, he argues that living at a non-stop pace slowly shapes who we become. Hurry makes us less patient, less loving and less present. Not only with the people around us, but also with ourselves and with God.

Throughout the book, which showcases Comer’s signature style of deep biblical truths woven with practical application, we’re challenged to resist hurry and intentionally pursue a slower, simpler way of life.

One of the key practices he highlights is taking Sabbath seriously. For many of us, Sabbath has come to mean little more than ‘Sunday’, a day for church and fewer plans. Comer reframes it as something deeper: a time to completely ‘stop working, stop wanting [and] stop worrying’. The ‘Jesus soul habit’ of Sabbath is more than a day; it’s a way of being. It’s a state of restfulness rooted in God’s presence.

But this kind of life doesn’t happen by accident. It requires discipline and intention. Whether that’s setting aside a full day or an hour, slowing down is a choice that has to be made.

In our world dominated by endless notifications, scrolling and pressure to be productive, this book feels especially relevant. Comer puts into words what many of us are already feeling: our pace of life is unsustainable. Challenging and surprisingly refreshing, it feels like permission to finally step off the treadmill and breathe.

• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is published by Hodder & Stoughton.