Hey friends! You know that feeling when you’re searching for something more? That restlessness in your soul? There’s a beautiful reason for that!
If this world were all there was—if it was supposed to completely satisfy us—wouldn’t that be kind of depressing? I mean, think about it! If I was made just for this world and nothing else… that would actually be terrible news! 😅
This world we live in is a mess. It is consumed with anxious busyness and stress. It is swamped with hurry and hustle.
Let’s be real—our world is gorgeous but broken. There’s always another headline about some disaster, another bill in the mail, another political drama unfolding. Even those peaceful moments by the river, or hunting quail in North Georgia (which I absolutely LOVE, by the way!) never quite fill that deeper longing in my heart.
But here’s the amazing thing! When we use creation as a window to see the Creator, everything shifts!
We can join with David’s heart-cry in Psalm 8:9 (NLT): “O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!” When anxiety comes knocking (and it will!), we can turn to God like David did in Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
I love what Psalm 94:19 says: “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” (NLT) Isn’t that beautiful?
Research actually confirms this! Studies show that people who practice spiritual mindfulness experience significantly reduced anxiety levels. When we acknowledge our worries and then share them with God, something remarkable happens.
That term, “spiritual mindfulness,” is quite modern isn’t it? It almost feels quite earthy to me. When I wrote it, I stopped to ponder what I actually meant. I came up with this elementary definition: Spiritual Mindfulness is simply placing the thoughts and attitudes of Jesus at the top of my mind, the throne of my heart, and the tip of my tongue through intentionality grounded in a deep love and desperate need of all He has done and is doing in, through and for me.
Philippians 4:6-7 puts it perfectly: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)
Notice it doesn’t promise our problems will magically disappear (I wish, right?). But it does promise that God’s peace will stand guard over our emotions and thoughts. The Greek word used for “guard” actually means to “keep watch and protect”—like a security detail for your heart and mind! How cool is that?
So next time you feel that restlessness, remember: this world was never designed to fully satisfy your soul. But it was absolutely designed to point you toward the One who can.
That’s not disappointing—it’s actually the best news ever! ✨
What’s been making your heart restless lately? I’d love to hear about it!
Go in Peace, Chuck
