Simplify…

I have a tendency to over-think. Over-analyze. Read too much into things.

As I get older, I am learning to rest more. Specifically, rest for my mind.

Years ago, I struggled horribly with anxiety and fear.

Much of it, was due to the things I was allowing into my heart and mind.

Endless googling, out of control worrying, constantly seeking to control all those things that I had no business trying to control.

Eventually, I became burnt out and physically and mentally DONE.

I have always envied, in a good way, those that do not worry. People that just sit back and let life take them down the river. I have wondered for so long…”what is their secret??”

Well, I believe the Lord answered that for me. He tends to answer if we just ask Him. :)

Years ago, in the midst of all of those anxious, stomach churning, lack of peace days…He led me to this scripture.

“…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Make it my AMBITION to lead a quiet life. To mind my own business, and do the work right there in front of me.

How simple and life changing this scripture was for me.

My mind and heart were anything but quiet. I was constantly consuming and consuming and consuming the world via my phone and internet.

I would google symptoms, world events, opinions, news, parenting advice from bloggers, podcasts…anything I could get my hands on.

I was looking for peace in all the wrong places.

As I think about my grand parents and great grand parents, I am in awe that they had access to almost NOTHING, yet, they survived.

They did not know what was going on in the day to day lives of others across the world, as we do today.

They were not bombarded with endless information.

They woke up each day, and set out on their daily tasks.

A quiet life, indeed.

God’s Word says that…”From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” Acts 17:26

So, we know that we are exactly where we are supposed to live in time. It is no accident we are here, in 2024.

We are surrounded by news, technology, opinions, podcasts…

The Word also tells us that we are “in the world, but not of it.” John 17:16

It is possible, to go against the grain a bit. Follow a simpler path, instead of the cluttered path of the world.

What does this look like?

Here is what I am finding…

-begin the day with Jesus.

-consume more of God’s Word than the news.

-read His Word in lieu of listening to a podcast. (the youversion bible app will read the Bible out loud to you. it is awesome!)

-reach out to a neighbor, or someone close by. it is no accident that you live exactly where you live.

-serve your family.

-smile. God’s word says that a “cheerful heart is good medicine..” Proverbs 17:22

-say thank you and often.

-when worry comes, go directly to prayer. “and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..” 2 Corinthians 10:5

-memorize scripture. this will be a direct assault on worry, fear, anxiety, grief, depression…all the things.

-go outside. breathe God’s air of Creation. be in awe at the things around you. it will do wonders for your heart.

Listen, I do not have this all figured out. However, I have found that a few small changes in my day make a HUGE impact on my well being.

One of my favorite mentors, Elisabeth Elliot, has this to say…

“we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.”

“We are paralyzed. Fear grips us tightly; grief disables us entirely. We have no heart. At such a time I have been wonderfully calmed and strengthened by doing some simple duty. Nothing valiant or meritorious or spiritual at all—just something that needed to be done, like a bed to be freshly made or a kitchen floor to be scrubbed, one of those things that will never be noticed if you do it but will most certainly be noticed if you don’t! Sometimes it takes everything you have to tackle the job, but it is surprising how strength comes.”

Friend, it is possible to have peace.

Seek peace and you will find it.

quieting my world,

jill