Embracing Stillness: Finding Focus in a Distraction-Filled World
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him...”
Being still is contrary to modern day society. In a world full of schedules packed to the brim, any rare moment of free time is quickly filled with scrolling through reels, reading new posts, watching the latest videos, or downloading the next intriguing game. Our minds crave distraction, and when we finally encounter stillness, we often don’t know what to do.
Being still is an important and rewarding yet often challenging practice that many people neither understand nor appreciate. It’s those moments without distractions that truly matter: moments where it’s just you and God filling the silence.
“I had passion and energy, but I lacked focus and direction. I needed to remember what inspired my passion.”
I recently finished reading Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why,” and I highly recommend it, especially to aspiring entrepreneurs. The book is packed with real-life stories and scenarios demonstrating that starting with “WHY” is the key to success—not what you do or how you do it, but why you do it. What I loved most about this book was how clearly it reflected our lives as Christians. Our “WHY” fuels what we do and how we do it. There’s so much I could say about this! Ultimately, it emphasizes that without a “WHY,” we lack focus and direction. Sinek wasn’t even referring to our “WHY” as Christians, which fuels our daily lives and how we live. That’s what made this book so impactful. The author wasn’t intentionally highlighting the truth of Christianity, yet in his effort to explain the importance of “WHY” in a buisness model, he perfectly illustrated how our “WHY” as believers guides our everyday lives. And what is our “WHY” as believers? To glorify God.
How does this tie back to being still? In today’s world, our schedules are so packed that every minute is filled with some form of distraction. Even our moments of free time and relaxation are occupied by activities that divert our attention. Isn’t that exactly what Satan wants? To fill our minds with constant distractions, because it’s in those moments of stillness that we remember the God we serve, set our priorities, and act accordingly. It’s during these times of stillness that we recall our “WHY,” regain focus and direction, and remember what inspires and fuels our passions—Christ.
One of my biggest goals for August is to carve out more times of stillness. I want more distraction-free moments where it’s just me, my thoughts, and God. These are the times when I can reflect on and remember the “WHY” that fuels what I do, regaining focus and direction. Whether that means waking up earlier, taking a walk, saying no to something to make time for God, or replacing a habit with this one, I am eager to cultivate these moments. In a world full of distractions, being still is becoming increasingly difficult, but it’s incredibly important. So, who’s with me? Here’s to more still moments, more conversations with God, and refocusing on what truly matters in life. I believe this is the foundation for building your faith and growing in the Lord: learning to embrace stillness.
