Jesus Withdrew. We Scroll
Devotion doesn't survive in distraction—it thrives in stillness.
If your life feels loud, it’s not a volume problem—it’s a silence & stillness issue.
Jesus pursued the quiet. Not because He lacked power, but because He prioritized presence. So should we.
The Noise is Constant
We are masters of motion. Sorry if that excites you, it is not intended to be a complement. We are a people who are always doing something. Looking to be running somewhere, even if we don’t know where. Our days are full, our social media feeds are nonstop, and our souls are overstimulated.
Jesus made an effort to be devoted. We are often most devoted to scrolling on our favorite devices.
Our to-do list can be like a never-ending phone ringing off the hook- loudly reminding it is always needing to be answered.
We wear busyness like a badge of honor, as if exhaustion equals faithfulness.
I myself, have felt like I am a member of the “busyness brigade.” Always on the go.
I have learned busyness isn’t a fruit of the spirit.
But here is what’s scary about the danger of ‘busyness’—this constant running can push us to a dangerous place: a life too busy for the Savior.
Yikes- too busy for time with Jesus?
None of us would like to admit that we have put Jesus in the back seat, but it happens. We allow things to take priority of his presence.
It is a state where we miss the quiet whispers of grace. We overlook the fingerprints of God in our day. We rob ourselves of the peace that stillness was designed to give.
In a world of temporary achievements we don’t need more productivity—we need more presence.
Because when the noise never stops, our hearts don’t either. We get tired. And that’s where this post comes in.
A Startling Statistic
1 in 3 Christians report never having intentional quiet time with God in a given week. (Barna Research, 2021)1
That’s not a month—that’s a week.
And yet we wonder why we feel far from God. Why we’re anxious. Why our prayers feel dry. Devotion is reminding us, it is a much better option than being on the move. That said, we don’t need guilt—we need a better rhythm.
The Pattern of Jesus
For those of us who have kept the badge of busyness, let’s look to the precedent and pattern Jesus modeled throughout the gospels.
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” — Luke 5:162
Jesus didn’t withdraw because He was weak—He withdrew because He was wise. He made space for solitude because He prioritized intimacy with the Father. He modeled a way of life that wasn’t reactionary but intentional.
Then we look to Ephesians:
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…” — Ephesians 5:15–17
Paul’s words echo the same heart: live wisely. Make the most of your time. The wisest thing we can do is pursue more time with our heavenly father. It’s even the most productive thing we can do. It allows spiritual growth. A devoted life leads to a deeper relationship. As Richard Foster once said:
“The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” -Celebration of Discipline3
Stillness Isn’t Disengagement—It’s Devotion
Devotion doesn't survive in distraction—it thrives in stillness.
In Scripture, solitude isn’t portrayed as retreat, but an opportunity for renewal. From Genesis to Revelation, God meets His people in quiet places. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” That’s not poetic fluff—it’s practical truth.
It’s almost like solitude and stillness are sacred rhythms. They’re where God fills what we surrender. We are intentionally making room for God’s voice and hand to shape us.
It’s where we stop striving. Where we are able to listen.
As author Henri Nouwen said, “Without solitude, it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life.”4
From what I have seen, solitude lays a foundation of devotion. Choosing stillness today is an act of defiance against a culture of constant motion.
It says, “God, You are enough.” “you are bigger and better than my plans.”
My Journey Running From Stillness
There was a moment—early 2020—when things felt like they were falling apart. The Covid-19 pandemic had just begun, people were hurting, the world was shifting, and I was leading a brand-new church plant. I was scrambling for answers. My personality tends to lead me to try to have an “answer” or “fix” for everything. I was trying to hold it all together, with my own limited grip.
There were times, where it felt like I was running on a treadmill—exerting all the energy in the world and going nowhere.
That’s when the Lord brought Psalm 46:10 back to my heart:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
A simple verse that holds so much weight. Stillness first. Then knowledge. Which is really a knowledge of a deepening relationship. As the relationship grows, comes all of the benefits. Grace, joy, forgiveness, and even the fleeting peace that evades the busyness brigade.
And something happened when I stopped striving. I got off the treadmill. I got quiet. And God got loud—not in volume, but in clarity. The way forward didn’t necessarily become easier, but it became clearer. I wasn’t walking in my own strength anymore. I was walking with the Father.
Take a Step
Let’s be honest—many of us are part of that 1 in 3 statistic. People who are too busy to be still. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
This week, I want to challenge you: start your day with 5 minutes of silence. No music. No phone. No noise. Just you and Jesus.
It is okay if it feels awkward. Let it feel different. But let it happen.
Because devotion in the quiet place is where clarity starts. It's where God speaks. It's where peace lives.
Let’s Be Devoted.
Let me know in the comments how you make practices of solitude and stillness. Would love to learn from this community of faith!
THIS IS A SERIES ON DEVOTION- CHECK THE FIRST POST HERE:
https://adamlawley.substack.com/p/devotion-in-a-distraction-era
Barna Group. “Year in Review: Barna’s Top 10 Releases of 2022.” Barna Group, December 21, 2022. https://www.barna.com/research/year-in-review-2022/.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016.
Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1978.
Nouwen, Henri J. M. Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life. New York: HarperOne, 1981.
The pandemic definitely was a catalyst for me in learning to be still. I got back to outdoors where I was able to be still in
His Presence.
I had a wake up call 40 years ago. I was having a quiet time almost every day, but 10-15 min ended up not being enough time to build and sustain the relationship with Jesus. If Jesus rose early in the morning and went to a lonely place to be with the Father, I could do it also! I made a decision to give God an hour in the morning, and set my alarm an hour earlier, so that I could have time to read and pray, not just a few verses, but chapters and books.
The relationship needs silence and reflection and that takes time. As I began to explore the Bible as an entire book, not just a verse or topic, I began to see the beauty of God’s plan for salvation, a love story that even predated creation!
Proverbs 2 talks about a father teaching his son how to gain wisdom , as a search for hidden treasure. That got me excited, God was in a sense asking me to come along side, as Jesus said, and take his yoke and learn. He was offering himself (in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col 2) to me, if I would just take the time.
I can get carried away here, but it’s the love relationship. He’s given us so much (Ps 103:1-5), including his Word, the best first step is to pick it up and read, really read.