by Emily Vickery
The sun began its slow descent below the edge of the field. From our cover in a ditch, the tufts of plants around us began to take on an orange-hued glow. Aside from the occasional squirrel’s chatter or breeze through the winter wheat, the whole earth seemed to be still. My eyes scanned the tree line in front of us for movement, but the only sign of life was the quiet breathing of my husband beside me. Although the point of our excursion was to add some venison to our freezer—hopefully—I was not disappointed by the lack of deer. I inhaled more deeply than I had in some time, relishing the quiet beauty around us. Glancing over to my fellow hunter, I whispered, “This is the quietest my life has been since the baby was born. I don’t know the last time I was able to be this still.”
Stillness is increasingly difficult to find in our modern culture. There is always another task to accomplish, conversation to carry on, or notification to check. Even when we find pockets of peace within our hectic days, we still have to focus on calming the frantic pace of our own minds or settling the anxieties or emotions within us. The idea of inner stillness or a peaceful, quiet life sounds pleasant but idealistic, lovely but unattainable. Is this another item to tack on to our ever-expanding to-do lists? Should we pencil “search for stillness” into our planner? No, but if we want to find a life that exemplifies this sort of peaceful living, we need to take a careful look at how we structure our days.
Why Is Stillness Hard to Find?
Life today is often busy, cluttered, and noisy. Our society is filled with modern comforts and conveniences. Yet we still find ourselves hard-pressed to find time for even a fraction of the still and quiet moments enjoyed by our ancestors who made do without dishwashers, washing machines, and even indoor plumbing (!). Should we not, with all our modern gadgets, be able to rest in ways that previous generations only dreamed about? Jill Winger explains, “As progress was solving many of our long-held problems, it was simultaneously creating a host of new ones. It would seem the easier our lives have gotten, the unhappier we’ve become.”[1] How can this be?
Several factors are at play in this phenomenon. First, we have been convinced we need more things to feel satisfied. Consumerism has led many to believe that happiness is found in more, not less. With the acquisition of things comes greater spending and longer working hours. The rise of social media has added another layer to this. It is no longer enough to have the nicest things; we must show others we live the nicest life. We may be tempted to exchange a quiet, simple life for a faster-paced, activity-filled one that looks better on paper, or at least on Instagram. As a result, we often forfeit opportunities for stillness when they arise even in a busy life, thinking we should be doing something more productive or checking in on what others are doing.
This tendency leads to the second barrier to stillness in our modern world. We have become far too easily distracted. Some of our distraction may be due to our limitations as human beings, but much of our distractibility today is enhanced by the information overload that looms large in our lives. Recognizing this tendency toward distraction, companies create technologies and products that seek to capitalize on our weakness. In the process, they knowingly exacerbate the problem. Our focus and attention have become forms of currency, and some apps can quickly bankrupt us.
Moments of stillness are hard to find because in our noisy, distraction-filled world, it is much easier to scroll through email or social media, sing along to a curated playlist, or binge-watch the latest trending Netflix special than it is to sit in silence. Why? Because stillness is boring, and if there is one thing we have forgotten how to tolerate, it is boredom.
So, we push on, cramming our schedules full of work tasks and extracurricular activities, and then filling any free time left with doom scrolling and zoned-out screen time. As a result, we become anxious, unfocused individuals who find stillness hard to obtain and, when given opportunities to practice it, even more difficult to enjoy.
Do We Really Need to Be Still?
With all these barriers to stillness, it might be easy to question the need for consistent moments of quiet in the first place. Is it important to seek stillness if it means a slower-paced, simpler life? In a word, yes. While stillness itself may not be a fruit of the Spirit per se, it is an implication of the development of several fruits listed in Galatians 5. Let us look at several of them and consider how seeking stillness in our lives can be an indicator of and a proving ground for these spiritual virtues.
Stillness indicates a strong faith in God’s sovereign power.
An unwillingness to take time for stillness is often an indication of a weak or underdeveloped faith in God and His sovereignty. We may say we believe God is omnipotent and holds all things together. However, our lives tell another story, one in which we play both author and protagonist. We may attempt to wear so many hats because we have come to believe we are the only ones capable of wearing them well. Yet if we are willing to reduce our daily load and practice seeking simplicity and stillness in our lives, we display a faith in God’s power to sustain us and all the various endeavors we pursue. We show our passive obedience in recognizing our finite, imperfect nature in comparison to His ability to do all things well. In a daily practice of being still, we also actively obey His commands to spend time in His presence, learning of Him and His better ways.
Stillness enables us to practice peaceful living even in busier seasons.
We may not always be in a season of life that allows for an hour of quiet, peaceful time with the Lord or His creation. As a mom to two toddlers, I have struggled to squeeze in time to write this article during nap times and before early morning cries from the nursery interrupt my workflow. It is during these more difficult, stressful times that a practice of stillness is most beneficial. By reducing the opportunities for distraction, embracing boredom, and practicing a simpler lifestyle, we begin to develop rhythms of life that allow for the work of the Spirit to continue producing peaceful fruit in us. This inner stillness is accessible even in the midst of chaotic seasons.
Stillness gives us the space needed to live out the fruits of the Spirit in our relationships.
Human beings were not created to be constantly in motion. We do not hold up well under constant strain. Seeking stillness allows us to decompress from daily stressors and reset our minds and bodies to function well for future obligations and endeavors. Without these consistent breaks, we eventually become less-than-ideal versions of ourselves. In my experience, we find it much more difficult to walk in the Spirit under such conditions. This problem is particularly noticeable in how we interact with others; if we are not resting well or are moving through life too quickly, we will find it increasingly difficult to be gentle, kind, or loving to our peers or family members. Setting boundaries around the pace of our lives enables us to ensure we are spending time at rest.
Conclusion
Stillness matters. But it is not something we will happen upon, especially if we follow the world’s template for life and success. We will have to say “no” to things (sometimes good things) to create the margin in our lives needed to embrace a life that is still and peaceful. We must also recognize that stillness in and of itself will not cure all our anxieties or frustrations. Peace is fully possible only through the Prince of Peace Himself. We can worship Him through acceptance of His boundaries, quiet obedience in the spiritual disciplines, and taking time to experience awe at His handiwork. This sort of stillness does more than provide us with a quiet moment for rest. It sanctifies us. And it restores our souls.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. —Matthew 11:28–30
About the Author: Emily Vickery lives in Pleasant View, TN, with her husband, Zach, and children, Jack and Daisy. She has a B.S. in Psychology from Welch College and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands. She works part-time at Welch College in the Institutional Research Office. She also enjoys serving alongside her husband, who pastors Oaklawn FWB Church. Her interests include reading, playing the piano, visiting local parks, and, most recently, attempting to learn the art of sourdough bread.
[1] Jill Winger, Old Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life (Toronto: Park Row, 2023), 44.
Recent Comments