Some days, it’s not that I’m avoiding God…
It’s that I’m afraid of what I might feel if I slow down long enough to hear Him.
Stillness sounds peaceful on paper. But in real life?
It can feel exposing. Confrontational.
Sometimes, I’d rather keep moving, scrolling, working, cleaning, anything but sit in silence with all the thoughts, all the feelings, all the ache.
And if that’s you too, I want you to know something: You’re not broken. You’re not failing.
You’re human. You’re carrying things. And you’re not alone.
Why Stillness Feels Hard
Stillness doesn’t just quiet the noise it brings you face-to-face with:
The grief you haven’t had time to process
The disappointment that’s still tender
The conviction you’ve been keeping at arm’s length
The question you’re scared to ask: God, where were You when…?
This is why it can feel safer to distract ourselves than to sit with God.
But here’s the truth I’ve learned: Avoidance may delay the pain, but it also delays the healing.
What Helped Me Stay
This week, I almost didn’t sit with God.
I literally said, “I don’t want to get quiet and talk to You today. There’s so much pain under the surface.”
But I came anyway.
And when I opened my Bible, I landed on Psalm 119:97–100:
“Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.”
That moment reminded me:
God has the answer for everything.
He is trustworthy.
He is gentle.
And I don’t have to be afraid of His correction.
Because He does not expose without an embrace.
I needed the reminder that God sees me, He knows me, He loves me. He is incredibly forgiving and understanding and from that place I understood that correction is care, that stillness isn’t a performance and that His presence is the safest place to bring my pain.
Those verses reminded me that God’s Word isn’t something to fear, it’s where wisdom lives. It’s steady. It’s safe. His commands aren’t harsh or distant, they’re proof of His care. In that moment, the lies I believed about God being disappointed or too harsh unraveled. I remembered: God is sovereign. He’s wise. And He always meets me with truth and tenderness. The enemy loves to distort our view of the Lord and I am so happy I didn't fall for it this time.
A Simple Way Back
If you’ve been avoiding time with God because it feels too heavy, too raw, or too hard, I want to invite you to try something simple:
1. Light a candle.
Not because God needs help showing up—it’s because we sometimes do. Lighting a candle shifts the atmosphere. It slows you down. It romanticizes the moment and helps you mark it as sacred.
2. Take a breath.
Inhale deeply. Let yourself arrive. You don’t have to rush into presence, you can settle into it. Even one calm breath can shift the atmosphere inside you.
3. Write down what you’re carrying.
Be honest. Let the paper hold what your heart can’t. Naming your burdens is one way of laying them down.
4. Read one passage of Scripture.
You don’t need a whole study, just one moment in the Word. Let it speak for itself. Let God speak through it.
5. Ask God: “What are You showing me about Yourself?”
This centers the moment. Quiet time isn’t about fixing you, it’s about finding Him. His character. His heart. His presence with you right now.
You don’t have to journal perfectly.
You don’t have to sit for an hour.
You just have to come honestly.
That’s why I created the Raphah Reflection Card, to give you a gentle way to be still, process with God, and find peace in His presence again.
You’re Safe Here
If stillness has felt scary lately, I want you to know:
You’re not the only one.
God isn’t waiting for you to show up perfectly. He’s just waiting for you to show up.
Even if all you can do is light a candle and whisper, “I’m here.”
That’s enough.
Let that be your starting place today.
Looking for Support?
- You can find a free 12 week devotional 12 week devotional.
- Or explore quiet time tools to help you feel grounded again (Devotional and Raphah Reflection Card included with every order) Shop here.
- Want to try a soft reset? Join me in the Quiet Time Challenge coming soon.