Back in the day of landline phones (which some folks still have), there was this annoying sound called a “busy signal”. It wasn’t pleasant. Whoever designed it could have kindly created the sound of chirping birds or a harp or any of the more pleasant ring tones we have available these days. Instead, the busy signal resembled the sound of a sick rooster coughing loudly.

It happened when we tried to call someone who was on their phone talking to someone else. Of course the more we needed to talk to them, be they individuals, government offices, medical practices, etc., the more we got that signal—because everyone and their neighbor was also trying to reach them.

It wouldn’t have been so nerve-wracking if we’d had the good sense to hang up, but too often we kept listening to the point of frustration bordering on aggravation. As if we could outsmart it somehow and make it turn into a ringing that someone would answer.

Or, if and when we did hang up, we’d try again right away. While this perhaps made a little more sense, it rarely worked, because the person we wanted to reach generally continued their conversation longer than the ten seconds it took for us to hang up and try again.

In fact, that created even more aggravation—something about repeatedly doing the same thing that doesn’t work can produce temporary insanity. At that point, someone had to intervene—a sibling, parent, spouse, the family dog—to get us to step away and give it some time before trying again, so we wouldn’t totally “lose it”. Or they’d tell us to try another number or someone else.

Fast forward to today. We may not have the actual busy signal, but we still have busy people. People and offices who, because they’re so sought after, don’t respond and/or put us on hold. This can be a literal hold, such as when we call by phone, or a figurative “hold”, such as being unavailable, putting us off, etc.

Whether these people and offices are actually important or just think they’re too important to respond, talk to us, or meet with us, it produces the same effect as the literal busy signal—annoyance and irritation. If we keep chasing after them to no avail, we’ll reach a point of obsession and aggravation, on the road to insanity.

The solution? Stop trying. Either wait until they’re not busy or call someone else who isn’t too busy to meet, talk, and/or help. We’ll feel a lot calmer, get our needs met sooner, enjoy real two-way relationships, and make those around us glad we did. If someone is too busy for us, they’re too busy to waste our own time on or lose our cool over. I know, this is counterintuitive. So how can we do this?

1. Don’t take offense— I get it– no matter our socioeconomic status, cultural background, or personality, no one appreciates, let alone seeks out, disrespect. But do busy people intend to make us feel that way? Likely not. They’re too busy to even notice how we’re feeling.

At this point we can choose to be angry at them, choose to feel hurt by them, or choose to not let them ruin our day, our life, or our emotional well-being. We can even take it a step farther and decide to try and help them manage their time better. Here I’m speaking of an individual friend or acquaintance. Institutions are beyond any of us(!).

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Prov. 19:11

2. Realize “it’s not me”—That is, although they’re being disrespectful, “busy signal” people are that way with most, if not all, people. Even C-Suite executives, celebrities, and popular people have to deal with “busy signals”. They’ve just developed enough confidence to say, “When this person is ready, they’ll come to me.” No chasing, no frustration, no aggravation. We can do the same. Even if we’re not well-known or highly sought after, we all have the same value in the eyes of the Lord, all made in His image. A Stradivarius violin retains its quality and value regardless of whether it’s played in a huge concert hall or a backwoods barn!

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Gen. 1:27

3. Move on to other things and people – Once we’ve decided to just let busy people be and not take their busyness personally, we’re free to do something more productive than remain preoccupied with them. We have other…

~friends and family members to have fun with

~projects to work on

~people to visit

~folks more willing and available to help

“… be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom. 12:2

4. Call on the One we’ll never get a busy signal from—Not only is He available, He has the most authority, power, care for us, and wisdom to respond to our call the best way possible. As His children, we have total and immediate access to the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, omni-loving (new word), omni-all-things-good, Ruler of the Universe! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to approach Him with confidence. 

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb. 4:16

Get a busy signal from others? Why languish there when we can go straight to the top!

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Rom. 8:15

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jer. 33:3

Keep all this in mind the next time you get a busy signal, and you’ll never let that awful “sound” continue in your head!