I remember a short fad a number of years ago that resurrected that old British phrase, “Keep calm and carry on.” Suddenly it was on t-shirts and stickers with every twist imaginable — my favorite still being “Keep calm… I can’t! I have anxiety!” Because honestly, who hasn’t felt that?
We all have anxiety. And without understanding what it’s actually for (and how our autonomic nervous system runs the show), the word “anxiety” alone can send us spiraling.
Holiday Overload and the Nervous System
Here come the holidays — blinking lights, new-year rollover, extra everything. Expectations, responsibilities, and commitments pulling us in ten directions at once. Too many spinning plates. We’re supposed to stay “locked in,” as the kids say. But “locked in” can slide real quick into locked up — tense, stuck, fight-flight-freeze mode. And suddenly we’re not present for anything, not even the stuff that matters most or the things that keep us healthy.
Anxiety was designed to work for us, not against us. It’s literally the body’s alarm system. Your autonomic nervous system (which controls involuntary bodily functions) readily reacts to all stimulation, both inside your body and outside of it. Suddenly, you find yourself with muscle tension, racing heart, clenched jaw, shallow breaths… keep that going too long and you’re looking at headaches, tummy trouble, sleepless nights, and a run-down immune system.
The Unhurried Presence of Jesus
In his book The Divine Conspiracy (1998), Dallas Willard wrote: “If I were to describe Jesus in one word, it would be ‘relaxed.’ He was relaxed with people, with circumstances, with himself.” That’s the unhurried, confident presence Willard loved pointing to — right in the middle of pressure.
That’s not to say, of course, that Jesus wasn’t unbothered or unmoved. (Remember, this is the same guy that flipped tables, sweated blood, and wept hard in times of mourning.) But he could also sleep in a storm and tell the waves to chill. Fully feeling, never frantic.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Our heads can know that truth while our bodies are still stuck on red alert. Maybe we’ve forgotten how to let the knowing sink all the way down. Maybe being “locked in” 24/7 has trained us to forget stillness — the active choice to tune out the noise of a world that never stops asking for more.
Why Stillness Feels So Hard Now
When we feel overwhelmed, we often just power through without really processing anything. Life keeps moving, so we can’t stop either, right? Thoughts like “I should…” and “I need to…” surge through our minds… and then Boom! Suddenly our autonomic nervous system kicks into gear. Sometimes that pressure lights a fire under us. Other times, it piles on so much weight that we freeze or sink into despair.
Being still right now takes intentionality. Balance requires intentionality. Boundaries demands intentionality. Screens, schedules, hustle culture — they’ve made quiet feel weird, almost wrong. (Hello, boredom.) We fear the silence or feel restless in empty moments, so we fill it with productivity or Netflix. Makes sense — with bigger responsibilities comes the fear we’ll waste a single minute.
We’ve been taught time is scarce and success is everything.
How Did Jesus Take Time Out of His Busy Day?
How often do we actually pause for a deep breath before our body forces the giant sigh that says, “Hey buddy, I need a break…”
What if learning to regulate your nervous system is the real win?
What if boredom is… good for us? <wink>
Jesus shows us some very relatable examples in his own life:
- “Come away… to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31) — literally commanding his disciples to pause.
- “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35–39) — prioritizing His own personal time of resting in the Lord.
5 Practical Ways to Be Still and Know God
So here’s where the rubber meets the road — simple, anyone-can-do-it ways to start remembering how to be still. I dare you to try them today:
- Pause on purpose. Put the phone in the other room, and set a timer for three minutes. Breathe in four seconds, hold seven, out eight. Brain starts planning dinner? Gently say “not now” and come back to the breath. You’re not slacking — you’re teaching your body it’s safe to stand down.
- Pray as the exhale. It doesn’t have to be fancy. One honest word — “God.” Open your hands in silence. Notice the steam off your coffee and say thank you to your Creator. Prayer isn’t another box to check; it’s the moment you remember who’s really in charge.
- Enjoy nature with no agenda. Yes, put your bare feet in grass. Spend 10 minutes on the porch watching clouds or a ridiculous squirrel. Science says it drops stress hormones faster than you can say “cortisol,” and God says it reminds us the planets keep spinning without our help (Psalm 8:3-4; Amos 5:8).
- Play like it’s medicine. Throw a frisbee. Dance in the kitchen to 80’s music (because it’s still the best). Recreation isn’t the reward for finishing everything — it’s oxygen for a creative life. Play is how we remind our souls we’re more than what we produce.
“Wherever you are, be all there.” Christian missionary Jim Elliot said it the best. When we practice being present, life stops feeling like a blur. Food tastes better. Jokes land funnier. We actually hear what our people are saying. We can better notice the tiny graces we’ve been missing.
The Gift of Presence
I leave you with this comforting promise from Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
This holiday season (and every season), make it a priority to steal back a few minutes of the day to just be. To breathe slow. To pray honest. Play loud or play quiet. To let our nervous system catch up with what our hearts already know: God is God, and we don’t have to be.
The plates will keep spinning.
We’re allowed to step off the ride and stand on ground that doesn’t move.
Be still.
Welcome some rest.
Written by Justin Fensterman, MA, LPC
Take the Next Step in Your Healing Journey
If stress, anxiety, or the constant rush of life is keeping you from experiencing the peace God intends, seeking support can make a real difference. Therapy with us provides a safe, compassionate space to process your emotions, set healthy boundaries, and learn practical tools to calm your nervous system.
Don’t wait for life to push you to a breaking point. Let us help you connect with a Christian therapist who can walk alongside you, helping you cultivate stillness, presence, and rest — so you can live fully and joyfully, just as God designed.
