July 9, 2025

One Simple Way to Find Strength in the Middle of the Chaos

One Simple Way to Find Strength in the Middle of the Chaos

If you’re like most people, your life is packed. Full calendar. Full inbox. Full mind. But not full of peace. We rush from one thing to the next, trying to squeeze the most out of every moment, and somewhere along the way we lose something essential: strength. True strength doesn’t just come from working harder or doing more. According to God, strength comes from something most of us overlook—stillness.

Stillness may seem counterintuitive. After all, our world celebrates hustle. But the kind of stillness God talks about isn’t weakness or passivity. It’s wisdom. It’s the key to refueling your soul, resetting your mind, and hearing God clearly. The truth is, stillness is where we find the strength we so desperately need.

Why Stillness Isn’t Laziness, But the Wise Thing to Do

Let’s get this straight: stillness is not laziness. It’s not checking out, being unproductive, or shirking responsibility. In fact, choosing stillness often requires more courage than pressing forward at full speed. It means stopping long enough to admit you can’t do everything. Admitting that you need help. That you’re not meant to run the world.

Stillness gives us space to breathe. It allows us to step back, listen, and process, rather than react. And in that space, God meets us. He gently reminds us that He is God and we are not. In stillness, we shift from relying on our own strength to receiving His.

Jesus modeled this kind of intentional stillness. He withdrew often to quiet places to pray, reflect, and reset. If Jesus—the Savior of the world—needed stillness, how much more do we?

The Spiritual Cost of Constant Striving

When we never stop, we start to lose touch with God. Our prayers get rushed, our joy gets thin, and our ability to hear His voice fades. We trade intimacy with Him for a false sense of control. Striving leads to burnout. But stillness leads to strength.

Maybe you’ve felt it. The exhaustion. The anxiety. The low-grade discouragement that settles in when you’re constantly on the go but never feel like you’re getting anywhere. God never intended for you to carry it all. He invites you to rest.

Rest isn’t optional in the Kingdom of God. It’s essential. Sabbath is a command, not a suggestion. And stillness is one of the ways we say, "God, I trust You more than I trust my schedule."

Isaiah 30:15 - Finding Strength in Stillness and Trust

Isaiah 30:15 (NLT) says, "This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.'"

God’s people were seeking alliances and solutions everywhere but in Him. They thought action would save them. But God told them the opposite: salvation comes through resting in Him. Strength comes from quietness and trust.

That’s a powerful reversal of what we often believe. When life is overwhelming, we assume the answer is more effort. But God says the answer is more trust. More stillness. More returning.

One Simple Way to Cultivate Stillness Today

So, how do you begin? Start small. Set a timer for five minutes. Sit in silence. No music. No phone. Just you and God. Breathe deeply and simply pray, "God, I’m here. I need You."

This simple step creates room in your soul. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy. What matters is the habit of turning your attention back to God. You’re not adding another thing to your list—you’re pausing to remember who’s really in control.

Over time, those moments of stillness add up. You become more grounded. Less reactive. More aware of God’s presence and more at peace in your day.

Embrace Rest: You’re Wise, Not Weak

Don’t buy the lie that rest is for the weak. In God’s economy, rest is a mark of wisdom. It shows that you know your limits and trust God’s limitless power.

We're human. Limited. Fragile. And that’s okay. When we rest, we remind ourselves and those around us that we believe in a God who never slumbers. He is always at work, even when we are not.

Resting is an act of faith. Stillness is an act of surrender. It tells God, "I believe You can do more in my stillness than I can do in my striving."

Find True Strength Today in Jesus

Jesus offers more than a nap or a vacation. He offers rest for your soul. Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT) says, "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'"

This is soul-level rest. Strength that comes from knowing you are loved, forgiven, and held. In Jesus, you are not defined by your performance. You are sustained by His presence.

Stillness brings you back to that truth. It centers you. It connects you to the One who is your true source of strength.

Experiencing the Transformative Power of Stillness

You don’t have to earn God’s presence. You don’t have to fix everything before He can meet you. You just have to stop long enough to notice He’s already there.

Stillness is one simple way to reset your heart and refocus your life. And it’s available today. Right now. Not someday when your schedule clears. But in this very moment.

Strength doesn’t always look like hustle. Sometimes, it looks like quiet trust. Like choosing to rest when everything in you says, "Push harder."

So pause. Breathe. Be still. And find your strength in the One who never grows weary.

Listen to the companion episode, "Strength in Stillness."