Slowing Down: Reclaiming Our Time and Our Minds
Remember when you were a kid and being grounded was the ultimate punishment? You'd be sent to your room, and for the first few hours, it felt like pure torture. There you were, doing absolutely nothing, just staring at the walls. Time seemed to stretch on forever, each second dragging by as you tried to think of anything—anything at all—to pass the time. But eventually, something strange happened. That forced stillness began to work on you. You had no distractions, no place to go, and in those quiet moments, your thoughts started to shift. You might have started noticing the details around you—the way your room looked like the after math of a tornado, the different noises heard throughout the house, or even contemplating why you were in trouble in the first place.
In those moments of “doing nothing,” real reflection began. Without realizing it, you were learning something. Those moments alone in your room weren’t wasted; they gave you space to think, to process, and even to feel a sense of peace or gratitude that wouldn’t have come if you were busy with a screen or to-do lists. That uncomfortable stillness, that “time out,” became an opportunity for growth, even when you didn’t expect it.
As adults, life is anything but still. We fill every day with endless to-do lists, back-to-back meetings, notifications, and scrolling, trying to squeeze as much as we can out of each minute. It’s no wonder time seems to slip through our fingers faster than ever. Days blur into weeks, weeks into months, and suddenly it feels like the seasons have changed, and we’re left wondering where the time went. Part of the reason for this is that we are constantly occupied, trying to do more in each moment. We’ve been conditioned to think that being busy equals being productive, that we need to fill every second with some form of action. But what if the answer to this overwhelming rush of life is something counterintuitive? What if the way to slow down time is to actually slow down?
In my own life, I’ve started intentionally carving out moments of stillness. And let me tell you, it’s not easy. My mind, so used to constant activity, doesn’t quiet down right away. I can barely sit for five minutes without feeling the urge to check my phone, answer a message, or think about what’s next on my to-do list. It’s as if my mind has been trained to chase after more and more, while my soul longs for peace, simplicity, and presence. But when I force myself to be still—even for a few moments—I notice something incredible: time feels different. It stretches. It expands. Suddenly, I’m no longer rushing from one task to the next. I’m present in the moment, and it feels like the world has slowed down.
And then, there’s something even deeper, if I allow it to happen. When I take those moments of stillness to spend time in prayer, reflect on God’s Word, or just sit quietly with Jesus, it’s like my soul catches up with my body. Those quiet moments with God have a way of taking my mind to another level of gratitude. The distractions and worries of the world fade, and I remember what truly matters. In those still moments, I feel His presence, His peace, and a gratitude that goes beyond surface-level thanks. It’s in the stillness with Jesus that my heart finds true contentment, and I realize just how much I have to be grateful for.
As we get older, time feels like it’s moving faster and faster. The days blur together, and it can feel like life is speeding by. But I believe part of that is because we’re constantly in motion—busy with work, family, social media, and all the things that demand our attention. We rush from one activity to the next, and in doing so, we miss the chance to truly experience the moments that matter. But when we choose to slow down, when we intentionally sit in stillness—whether it’s to reflect, pray, or simply be—we reclaim time. We get to soak up the richness of the present moment, and that’s when time starts to slow down.
Just like when we were kids, doing “nothing” can actually change everything. In the stillness, we find space for reflection, for gratitude, and for a deeper connection with God. And while it might feel uncomfortable at first, those moments of pause often lead to the most profound insights. It’s in the quiet that we truly hear God’s voice, and it’s in the quiet that we realize how much we’ve been given.
So, if you feel like time is slipping away, maybe it’s time to stop running. Maybe it’s time to sit still—just for a few minutes—and let the world quiet around you. Whether you’re pausing to pray, reflect, or just breathe, you’ll be surprised how those moments of stillness can expand your perspective, bring you deeper gratitude, and even slow down time itself. Because in the stillness, God meets us, and that’s where time really starts to matter.
This blog was inspired by my grounded teenage daughter!
Side Note: The Photographer’s Dilemma
As a photographer, I often find myself caught between two choices: being fully present in the moment or capturing it through my lens. This is a huge struggle for me. As a photographer, it feels expected of me to photograph or document all occasions. Part of these feeling is the pressures I put on myself. Do I enjoy the moment, or have the images for later? Documenting life is exhilarating—time seems to fly as I focus on framing, light, and composition. But when I choose to set the camera down and simply soak in what’s happening, time seems to slow just a little. Those are the moments when I can truly appreciate the beauty, emotions, and connections unfolding around me. The same is true being able to look back on the images created. It’s a delicate balance, but sometimes, stepping back and being fully present allows me to experience the depth of a moment in a way no photograph ever could.
