On my way to take my grandson to a birthday party yesterday, we came to a 4-way stop. Above, a blinking red light alerted drivers at the intersection. Lost in thought and fighting a headache, I sat staring at that red light for a full five seconds, waiting for it to turn green.
He and I got a good giggle out of my brain fog, but that moment was a wake-up call. It made me realize how much “clutter” I’ve allowed to take up residence in my mind. Peacemaking begins with a settled soul, but my brain was too noisy to even process a stop sign. When we are this depleted, we aren’t just forgetful; we are reactive. We lose the “margin” required to respond to others with grace rather than frustration.
The Threat of Clutter
The threat of clutter—both physical and spiritual—is often what keeps our discipleship from reaching its full potential.
When my children were young, I discovered they played together much more harmoniously in a straightened room. If their playroom became overwhelmed with a mess, they became irritable and prone to squabbles, eventually migrating to cleaner areas of the home. I have observed this repeatedly: their spirits need organization and clutter-free zones to remain at peace with one another.
Adults are no different. When our internal world is cluttered with “to-do” lists and anxieties, we lack the emotional space to be “quick to listen and slow to speak.” We need quiet times to recognize the hurt in others, the needs of our community, and to hear the song of the King. This is how we learn to discern our best responses to others in times of discord; this is how less becomes truly more.
Moving Beyond Superficiality
In a cluttered mind, prayers—and relationships—become trite and dutiful. We see a social media post requesting earnest prayer and simply type “Praying” before scrolling on.
Superficiality has been said to be the curse of our age and the enemy of true reconciliation. Peacemaking requires us to move beneath the surface, to listen deeply, and to be present. God desires a simpler, less cluttered life for us because He knows it leads to a heart capable of deep, intentional love rather than shallow, distracted “likes.
“When we aren’t desperately clinging to our stuff, our status, or our right to be busy, we are much harder to offend.
A Journey to “Joyful Unconcern”
The goal is not just to empty our closets, but to cultivate a disposition of “joyful unconcern for possessions” (Richard J. Foster). When my family and I moved from a 2,000 sq. ft. house to a 600 sq. ft. one, we gave away or sold almost everything. Six years later, I don’t miss a single thing. Not one!
Detachment from the unnecessary is a powerful tool for peace. When we aren’t desperately clinging to our “stuff,” our status, or our “right” to be busy, we are much harder to offend. We become people who can yield to others because our security and identity are found in Christ, not in our clutter.
Your Turn: Finding the Space
The Lord will help us change our focus if we are willing to let Him have control of our cluttered minds. This week, I challenge you to create space for peace:
- Find that space: Create one physical “clutter-free” zone in your home to serve as a sanctuary.
- Practice the “Holy No”: Decline one unimportant commitment to protect your physical and spiritual rest.
- The 5-Minute Buffer: Wake up 5 minutes earlier to settle your heart and pray before the world asks something of you.
- Release and Bless: Identify three personal items you haven’t used in years and bless someone else with them.
The Promise
“If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7
April Brooks
April serves as the Senior Content Manager for One America Movement. She is a lifelong learner and an avid observer of people. A proud living kidney donor and a passionate fan of God and her family, she loves the power of a well-written word. April and her husband Michael live in northeast Mississippi near Tupelo in a tiny house they are renovating themselves. They are active members of Lawndale Presbyterian Church, also in Tupelo. April holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Faulkner University and a Master’s in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
