Going to the Source

Turning down the noise and fighting for quiet and truth.

October sunrise in Virginia Beach; my favorite month there, and the one I miss the most.

Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
John 4:13-14

I don’t need to tell you that now, more than ever, with out phones in hand, it is all too easy to lose ourselves by mindlessly numbing our pain, scrolling through our problems, or distracting ourselves from doing work that actually needs to get done. Or is it just me?

I’ve become so accustomed to finding the app, the “7-day trial,” or supplement, to Band-Aid my ailments, and have fully bought into the lie that “add to cart” will solve all my problems (pun intended).

In an age where answers, solutions, and stuff are literally at our fingertips 24-hours a day and promise to be on our doorsteps in under 120 minutes, it’s easy to forget there is anywhere else to go.

One quick scan of my Instagram feed, and you will see a series of incredibly tailored algorithms designed to fix everything in my life that needs fixing—eliminate brain fog, lose weight, get organized, plan my meals, lengthen my lashes, and de-wrinkle my clothes—I could spend all day here and it would only generate more content.

And when these little illuminating rectangles, glued to our bodies aren’t solving our problems, they’re stealing our time and vying for our attention. Have you ever found yourself sucked into a black digital hole, only to come out of it, having lost hours of your precious time, accomplishing nothing? Ten years ago, “doom scrolling” and “binge watching” weren’t even parts of our vocabulary, and now they’ve become daily pastimes, and woven into our everyday vernacular.

The funny thing is, so often, we are surrounded by a barrage of constant noise—solutions, opinions, and glances into everyone else’s lives, but often, walk away feeling lonely, isolated, and unfulfilled.

Compounding the problem in the actual world, our lives appear “full” on the outset, but in actuality, we are scrambling, racing, over-scheduled, and overextended, begging the question, “Is there any fruit to be seen, besides multiple color blocks on a digital calendar and empty tanks of gas?” And rather than actually feeling full, we are left feeling depleted and wan, void of connection and true life.

Where is the app for that?

This past month, I found myself searching for answers and truth, but looking in all the wrong places, only to find myself empty-handed and even shorter on precious time. I’ve become so accustomed to instantly reaching for the apps, clicks, and scrolls, I’m out of practice with actually slowing down to carve out time and space to be still and connect with God.

It feels counterintuitive to how we have been programed to operate these days, but it’s in these pauses, waiting on God to show up, is where we learn more of who God is and all that He can offer us. When given the opportunity, He actually can provide the wisdom we need and the fulfillment we crave, no subscription needed!

He satisfies.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14

He settles.

Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control,
the soothing comfort of your presence calmed me down
and overwhelmed me with delight.

Psalm 94:19 (TPT)

He rescues.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.

Psalm 40:1-2

He restores.

So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.

Joel 2:25

He guides.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16

Ultimately, God is the source for the answers, fulfillment, and connection we desire. Jesus came to bring us life, but not just life, abundant life (John 10:10). And yet, while this is something I know to be true, I also have to be reminded of this every. single. day. Even when the distractions, notifications, and content is relentless, undistracted time with God is never void and never wasted.

“Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him.”

Psalm 37:7

This is a constant struggle for me, and a battle I fight daily. Some resources that I have found to be helpful are:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer (I re-listen to the audiobook every December, but love it so much, I bought the hard copy. I’m a “hold the book in my hands and underline everything” kind of girl.

Sara Hagerty is a dear friend and one of my favorite writers. Her Substack is one of three I currently pay for. Every word she has written this year on slowing down and intentional living has been a balm for my weary soul.

The Unplugged Hours by Hannah Brencher is a beautifully written, thoughtful approach to the world we now live in. Or, listen to this interview she did with Passion Church. If you’re like me, however, the interview will whet your appetite and you will end up buying her book. As long as you actually read it, I assure you, the book is worth your time and money!

I loved this podcast episode with Carols Whittaker and Annie F. Downs on “Reconnecting after 7 weeks with No Screens.” Hearing how Carlos now uses the “do not disturb” setting on his phone literally changed my days.

Yes, I realize I am sending you things to click, buy, and consume, but I do LOVE sharing my favorite things with people I care about.

Here’s to being thoughtful about what, when, and how we consume content, and also, in the midst of it all, remembering the true Source of abundant life, wisdom, and satisfaction. Let’s Roll!

Sweet friends, old and new, thank you for joining me in this little corner. I am still figuring out this space, but rather than writing unfinished posts in my head, I hope that the words ruminating around up there, looking for a place to be penned, will trickle out here with more frequency…I appreciate each one of you who has cheered me on and continues to propel me forward (you know who you are!)