Balancing daily demands with spiritual priorities can easily feel like adding more tasks to an already overwhelming to-do list, but God allows us to find stillness amid the hustle and bustle of modern life. At the inner We can adjust our schedules and grow closer to God through this beautiful process.
In a recent episode Expanding On the podcast, author Carrie Scarda joins host Brooke Walker to discuss how the gospel of Jesus Christ can help us access the divine rest that is already available to us.
Typically, when we think about incorporating mindfulness into our lives, we imagine adding events to our calendars, building in time for meditation sessions, yoga classes, and wellness retreats. But following the commandment to “be still” isn’t about checking a box, Carrie says it’s a mindset. “God desires a relationship with us more than we want us to complete a specific task.”
Carrie came to understand this principle more deeply than ever during a very busy time in her life. She was juggling many responsibilities, including caring for young children and managing a busy phone and work schedule. She felt overwhelmed figuring out how to accomplish it all.
When she prayed for help to know what to prioritize, she was surprised by the answer she received: “As I was thinking about that question, the thing that came to my mind was, ‘Carrie, those are all good things, but what I really want is to just sit with you.’…And that was very humbling to me….
“When I come to God and am nourished by Him and fed by His presence, I feel I have greater ability to discern where my energy should be most effectively spent.”
So what does it mean to sit with God and be nourished by His presence? One analogy that has helped Carrie is to think of spending time with God as warming yourself in front of a fire. Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop of South Africa, described prayer this way: [I am] It’s just trying to grow by being there. It’s like when you’re sitting in front of a fire in the winter, you’re just there, you don’t have to be smart; the fire keeps you warm.”
Carrie says that during a time in her life when prayer was difficult, this concept helped her re-open to God and get through difficult trials.
“Even in the midst of anger, confusion and sadness, God’s presence comforted me. So mindfulness helped me peel back those layers of wounds, like Joseph in the Sacred Grove who had to sit in the dark for a long time. And when I was able to see that more clearly and be there, I was able to have a more intimate relationship with God and feel His light and His warmth.”
The Brownie Effect and Mental Nutrition
This is not to say that we shouldn’t prioritize intentional spiritual habits like scripture study and temple attendance. President Nelson reminded us, “The Lord loves effort, because it brings rewards that cannot be obtained without effort.”
But we can find sacred serenity in the things we experience. already We practice this with the belief that our efforts will, bit by bit, contribute to spiritual nourishment over time.
“I think of it like the ‘brownie effect,'” Carrie says. “If I put a pan of brownies on the counter and I’m the only one in the house, I’ll walk by and have a little bit. [they’re gone]And I tell myself, those calories don’t count, but obviously, they do count.
“I think [spiritual] Nutritional calories also count, even if they are bite-sized. You don’t have to go on a big spiritual retreat, just incorporate bite-sized practices, mindfulness and meditation practices little by little, and you’ll see benefits over time. [for] That way we can be better prepared for the moments that matter.”
Hear more from Carrie Scalda Expanding The podcast is available in the player below or on your favourite streaming platform.
For more information on silence, check out the following articles:
► Does your mind wander when you pray? You’re not alone (and why it’s okay)
How Meditation Can Produce Dramatic Changes in the Lifestyle of Latter-day Saints
► Avoiding emotional burnout: Slowing down and finding personal peace
