Learning to Breathe in the Quiet Spaces
Learning to Breathe in the Quiet Spaces:
We have lost our tolerance for the ordinary, haven't we?
If you take a quiet look around our world today, you can see how we have gently but systematically filled up every beautiful, sacred space with noise. We wake up to the instant chime of a phone, slide a podcast into our ears the second we step into the kitchen, scroll through endless social media feeds with our morning coffee, and let a video play just to fold the laundry. It is as if we have become deeply afraid of emptiness, of silence, and of the tender beauty found in a completely uninterrupted moment. So what if we have been programmed to slowly accept life as normal with things we would not originally accept as normal? More than ever we are living with things to make life easier that actually have caused us to be more distracted, confused and stressed and seriously not healthy for us. And just because something has been deemed as normal in our society does not necessarily mean it is good for us or that it is progress.
If you step back and really take a look at our progress can you not see how we have quietly built an artificial, sterile loop for our daily lives? We move from the closed walls of our homes, to the capsule of our cars, to the bright aisles of a store, and right back again. We have insulated ourselves from the very world God beautifully designed for us to inhabit and feel alive in. We fill our bodies with processed things, push past our natural need for deep, restorative sleep, and trade the vibrant, living creation for a digital, pixelated copy. And sadly, none of it ever satisfies the deep hunger in our souls. What used to be beautifully ordinary is now treated as boring. If we aren't constantly entertained by a loud concert, a massive event, or hours drifting away on TikTok, our spirits grow restless.
But scripture reminds us so gently in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The pattern of this world is a relentless, exhausting sprint toward distraction. We become so much like those described in 2 Timothy 3:7, "always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." We ingest endless bytes of information, yet our inner selves remain completely malnourished. We think we are becoming wiser and more connected, but as Romans 1:22 warns, "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools." We can have our walls filled with plaques, degrees, certificates, achievements and call ourselves educated because we stacked our minds with information from textbooks, professors, schooling, seminars, the world system and still be a foolish person. We have traded the Creator's masterpiece for a pale, imitation world. We confused information for wisdom, which can only come from the source of wisdom, our creator and Lord God. There is a difference between having high intellect and actually being wise. If in the morning the first thing we reach for is the phone we will only get inundated with the world and its distractions, opinions, turmoil and strife. It is not a healthy or wise way to enter a new day. Upon rising we should strive to be still, be quiet, and experience a little nature. We should focus on gratitude and seek wisdom from the Almighty God before ever attempting to navigate a lost and chaotic world. To discern and sift through the plethora of information we get bombarded with, we need to only rest in the Lord, who can lead our feet in the right direction. Every morning when I awake, the sun is pouring into my window, peeking in and gently waking me as if to say come on, let's go, we have much to do...we have life to live. It is always a beautiful place and I am grateful for it every day. I am fascinated by the simple glittery shine on my lamp beads and the colors of the sunrise. They change so quickly. I then hear the life outside with the birds gathering and singing their glorious morning songs. It is as if they are coaxing me to come join them. It gives me great joy to be amidst nature.
Our Heavenly Father already gave us exactly what we need to thrive, to heal, and to be whole. He placed it in the simple herbs, the clean air, and the quiet rhythms of nature. Yet, how often do we reject those simple gifts to do our own thing? I hear from so many women who tell me how deeply they ache for simplicity, yet they find themselves continuing down that noisy road because they simply don't know how to step off. Or perhaps they do but they just refuse. A chaotic drama filled life can be an addiction because with constant distractions and noise we never have to look at ourselves and our sin. I feel, as women, we have failed our heavenly father by choosing to live our own lives, rather than focusing on all He has for us. When we do our own thing we are actually not trusting in His true and perfect way. We are basically lifting a fist up to His face. God forgive us. Modern women tend to be overly independent, strong willed, opinionated and not submissive to the will of the Lord and say things like "it's my life". This is true...it IS your life but we are not our own. Eve also said those same words by going against the Lord God in choosing to eat from the fruit of the tree of knowledge. That tree of knowledge is what so many are eating from these days, men and women, where we define right and wrong for ourselves rather than trusting divine wisdom. We so insidiously have decided to mix good and evil through media, algorithms, and technology, thinking we know best, but take a look around. It has only lead to a confused, chaotic dis-regulated state. We live with the underlying assumption that we do not need guidance, accountability, or a higher baseline—believing "we are smarter than our Creator". Constantly filtering life through a lens of anxiety never leads to peace and happiness. Demanding absolute control creates a heavy burden. When we decide we must define everything ourselves, we inherit the anxiety, pressure and constant striving of managing a life on our own strength. The world God provided is rich with quiet beauty, deliberate rhythms and natural grounding. Stepping out of the frantic rush of modern cultural expectations allows us to see how much has already been provided for us. Submission is not a restriction; it is a protection. Operating within the boundaries of divine principles re-establishes a foundational peace and opens the door to experience deep, unconditional love without the need for performance or self-assertion.
To counter the cultural pull toward radical independence, scripture provides clear boundaries and pathways that lead back to stillness and protection. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Relying on our own understanding is the ultimate trap of the "Tree of Knowledge." True direction only comes when we acknowledge that God's vision is greater than our limited perspective.
In Genesis 3:6, the word of God says, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate." The temptation was not just about the fruit; it was the desire to be "like God," independent and self-directed. When we choose what looks good to our own eyes over what God has spoken, we step out from under His umbrella of protection. In James 4:7–8, the word reads, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Our freedom seeking society says submission is weakness, but scripture reveals it as a position of absolute spiritual authority and safety. True alignment requires a conscious closing of the door to worldly attitudes and like I said before, we are to be set apart from the world. In Isaiah 30:15, we hear from God Himself. He says, "For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.' But you would not." The modern spirit demands constant noise, self-promotion, and aggressive independence. God’s pattern for peace relies on returning to His design, resting in His provision, and finding unshakeable confidence in His sovereignty. It really is not difficult at all. We just have to let go and let God.
My sweet friend, time runs out for all of us far quicker than we think. When we look back at our lives, what will have actually mattered? It won't be the viral videos or the artificial noise. It will be the simple, ordinary, beautifully unhurried moments. It will be the soft spaces shared with the ones we love. It will be slowing down long enough to truly take in the crisp, comforting smell of autumn, to watch the rain fall on crisp leaves, or to walk out into an open field just to look up in awe.
I am so in love with autumn. I find it is the perfect time to be reflective and to stop for those quiet moments. It is cooler out and my plants are even thriving again after a very harsh summer. Planting in autumn is special here. Even the skies are thriving with vivid colors. To me, it is the little things that matter. And it is in those still quiet moments God wants to speak to us. He wants to teach us something, even abide in us. We really need to not miss those precious gems. Instead of stuffing our lives and time with as much noise as possible, let us stop-striving. Be still and listen to God. Just be-stop measuring obsessively and comparing yourself with the world and its trends. Seek the Lord first and His wisdom as we cannot know truth in the midst of the artificial selfish man made life.
As Psalm 19:1 beautifully declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Creation is constantly whispering His love and truth to us, but we have to be quiet enough to hear it. God is tenderly calling us to slow down, to step away from the sterile loop, and to experience the living world exactly as He originally intended. We are meant to be beautifully set apart from this frantic pace.
If your soul is weary of the noise and you are ready to reclaim that grounded, steady peace God intended for you, it is okay to hit a deliberate halt. It is time to create a soft, compassionate space for your spirit to rest, heal, and breathe again.
That is exactly why the Rise Anew program was placed on my heart. It is a gentle, intentional 21-day journey designed to help you strip away the artificial clutter, nourish your physical body with the pure things God provided, and renew your spirit in true, holy stillness. Let’s stop trading the living world for a distraction. Let’s step off the wheel together, breathe in His peace, and learn how to rise anew. Please, if you are truly seeking to make a change, a transformation, take a look at the Rise Anew program on the website under Rise Anew Program page We are planning a Jan 11th start for a free private online group to work together to start making changes towards a simpler way, transforming mind, body and soul from the inside out. I am excited to get started and want to share it with you all.
God bless you all and I will sign in again next week with my thoughts and experiences. Please comment and send a note. I love to hear from you all!
Kimberly