SWIMMING UPSTREAM

As ironic as it sounds, pursuing a life of peace, joy and contentment is a fight. It’s a constant swimming upstream- against the constant distractions of our day. There are so many things vying for our attention. Television and film are insatiable beasts, constantly churning out content competing to devour your imagination. Social media and brands sell the subtle idea that you need more. It says, “you need to show more, do more and be more.” Soon, there are non-stop comparisons and our minds are plagued with discontentment. How do we keep our souls quieted in a loud, caustic, brutal world? 

“How do we keep our souls quieted in a loud, caustic, brutal world? ”

1 Thessalonians 4 says, “And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” The Apostle Paul says, “make it your ambition”. It was something to aspire to. This was written sometime around 49AD. Can you imagine? Even then, a quiet life and minding one’s own business was something to aspire to! In 2025, pursuing a quiet life is not for the faint of heart. It begins as painstaking work.

Well, there’s something interesting that happens when you’re planted in God. This world doesn’t cease to be inhumane and cruel. The problems don’t always go away. The trauma doesn’t disintegrate into the darkness of night. We bury ourselves in His presence- God reorients our hearts. He purifies our desires, our perceptions, and our muddled view of self. The Word reminds us that God is a just God and although this fallen world inhabits the pure and the evil, there will be justice in eternity. He helps us to heal the broken places and rejuvenates the wounds. After all, what we could use now, more than ever is the desire to lead a quiet life full of gratitude and clarity.