Recently we began a teaching series called Untroubled Heart which takes a look at what it means to live with peace in a world that is often mixed up with anxiety, distraction, and pressure. One of the meaningful discoveries along the way is this: a calm walk often starts with a slower pace.
Living with an untroubled heart is the opposite of avoidance or quick fixes. It’s about learning to take ordinary life-meetings, relationships, interruptions, and all— head on with a quiet confidence that comes from knowing God.
If you have missed any part of the Untroubled Heart series or want to revisit a message that spoke to you, I encourage you to catch up here.
Let’s talk about what it means to slow down without falling behind in life.
A Restless World Needs a Slower Way
Urgency is currency. The busier you are the more valuable you seem. From push notifications to packed calendars, many people move through their day at a pace that leaves little room for reflection, rest, or renewal. Yet, busyness has never been able to satisfy a soul. Life doesn’t get more meaningful the busier we become. Often, the busiest people wake up one day with one simple questions, “what is this all for?” and tragically they don’t have an answer. Because the answers to life’s most important questions don’t come from rushing, but they can be found when we start to slow down and walk at God’s pace.
Jesus wasn’t in a rush. Even when surrounded by needs and expectations, he modeled a rhythm of work, rest, and retreat. His example offers an alternative to the restless striving that leaves so many of us feeling burned out, questioning, and unsatisfied.
In the noise of modern life, slowing down is more than a luxury, it’s a spiritual practice.
Stillness Is Not the Absence of Activity
So, what are we supposed to do? Quit our jobs, leave our kids for a month-long silent retreat, and take a vow of digital rejection? The short answer is, probably not. Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up, but it does mean training to become still in the midst of a chaotic life.
Stillness is often misunderstood. It doesn’t mean withdrawing completely or doing nothing. It means creating space to notice what truly matters. Stillness trains the heart to listen, to pay attention, and to respond with wisdom rather than reactivity.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Another way to paraphrase this verse is, “Be still so that you are able to notice God.” Have you ever been so wrapped in something that you’ve missed someone trying to get your attention? Taht’s the idea behind Psalm 46. God is working, he wants your attention. Sometimes, we need to pull ourselves away from the craziness of life in order to see it.
Life is often crazy. But the good news is that the craziness is not all there is. Being still can help us see that.
Three Practices That Create Spiritual Space
Learning to slow down and be still does not come naturally to many (especially because it is often misunderstood and certainly not rewarded). So, below are a few practical ways to slow down in meaningful ways.
1. Begin the Day in Silence
Start the morning without screens. No email. No news. No noise. Even five quiet minutes can shift the tone of the whole day. A short time reading the Bible can serve as a grounding story before the distractions begin.
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” – Psalm 5:3
This rhythm doesn’t need to be long to be effective. Consistency, not length, is what shapes the heart.
2. Build in Short Pauses Throughout the Day
Instead of moving from task to task without a breath, try inserting a brief pause between moments. Just 60 seconds to stop, breathe, and reset. Even better, get outside. Walk a little. Look up at the sky and remember how small you are, how big God is, and how much he loves you. A quiet prayer like, “help me” or “remind me” can redirect your mind and calm you down.
Over time, these short pauses can lead to a quiet confidence.
3. End the Day with Gratitude
Instead of falling asleep with thoughts racing, take a few minutes to reflect. What moments stood out today? Where was there beauty, kindness, or provision? Don’t overthink it. It does not need to be profound. Just say thank you for a few things even and especially in hard seasons. It reminds us that life is worth the living.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
The happiest people are the most grateful.
Growth Happens Slowly
There is a difference between growing and racing. Racing is all about the finish line. Growing is all about the process. Life is more about growing than it is about racing. Faithfulness is the goal, not speed.
The way of Jesus is often slower than the world around us. But it is also deeper, richer, and more rooted in peace.
So, if life feels loud and your heart feels hurried, the solution is probably not a busier schedule but slowing down long enough to notice God and his goodness at work.
If the Untroubled Heart series has helped you, consider sharing it with a friend or family member who may be looking for more peace in their life. And if you’ve missed an episode, you can get caught up here.
By Brandon Gilliam
