Simple Living, Deep Faith

Simple Living, Deep Faith

I grew up in the city limits. I went to college in Oklahoma City, and I always thought I would live downtown in a high-rise apartment.

God had other plans.

When I moved back home and my husband and I got married, we lived in an apartment in our town — not downtown. When we started looking at houses, we focused mainly on the city, though we were also open to something on the outskirts. But we ended up building our house 15 minutes from the nearest town, out in the county, in the country.

Life turned out very differently than I imagined, but God knew exactly what we needed.

When we first moved into our house, I didn’t sleep well for about six months. It was so quiet, and I heard every little noise. Eventually, I talked with God about it, prayed over the house, and was finally able to sleep. Now, I’ve become so accustomed to the quiet.

It is in this quiet, simple living that my faith has grown deeper. It’s here that I’m able to clear my mind, breathe more deeply, and truly see God in the creation He made.

I used to go camping every summer with my family, and I loved being outdoors. In fact, as a kid, I was the one who had to be called inside after the streetlights came on. I just loved being outside.

I still do love being outdoors.

Where we live is also the place where the biggest changes in my life have happened and where I have found the firmest foundation.

James 1:2–3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

There have been many moments — and I’m sure there will be more to come — where I have not found joy in the trials I was facing. Honestly, some of them almost broke me. But at the same time, they showed me the strength of the Lord and helped me better understand that He was upholding me so I could persevere.

Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

This has been a Scripture I’ve carried with me for most of my life.

When I was younger, I remember being a free spirit, just enjoying life. But at some point, I became aware of many things and started struggling with anxiety and fear. Moving out to where life felt simpler helped calm that within me. It taught me not to fear as much.

I mean, with it being so dark out here and not always knowing what might be out there, fear could easily creep in. But the Lord taught me that in Him there is no darkness. Once I fully understood what that meant, it changed me. It gave me hope and a sense that if I could overcome those fears with the Lord’s help, what else could He help me overcome? What else could He change within me?

Here’s another Scripture that I’ve carried with me throughout my life:

Isaiah 40:31 — “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I grew up pretty quickly, and though I’ve tried to stay strong, weariness has lingered for a long time. But out here where we live, there is freedom. As I watch creation, I’m constantly amazed.

There are so many birds, and I’m reminded of what the Bible says about how the birds of the air do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet the Father feeds them. They do not worry about where their food will come from, and we are far more valuable than they are.

As I watch the sky, there is one bird in particular that amazes me — the swallow-tailed kite. It’s such a simple bird, but as it flies, it glides effortlessly, floating on the wind. It seems peaceful and free.

That’s what I imagine life looks like when we are fully relying on and following God — peaceful and effortless in the sense that we know we can rely on Him to provide the strength and guidance we need.

Simple living brings a lot with it, and though living out here is simple in many ways, it also keeps us busy. The more land you have, the more there is to take care of.

This is where intentionality comes into play.

We could easily fill every moment of our time, but we have learned the importance of balance — taking time to sit outside, relax, and take in all that God has created and provided. Because He did in fact provide all that we have.

It is in the intentional time we spend with God that we truly find simple living and deep faith, no matter where we live.

I’ve heard many people say, “Well, after this,” or “after that,” life will slow down. “I just don’t have time to sit and read my Bible or pray because life is so busy.” Yet at the same time, they desperately seek peace.

I’ve heard it said that staying busy can become a defense mechanism, and I think that’s true. We live in a world that constantly says, “Go, go, go,” and when we finally have a moment to slow down, we feel guilty for resting.

I grew up in a household like that. We were always going and doing, and a lot of that revolved around church activities.

We can overcomplicate life because we feel the constant pressure of what we “have to” do.

But think about how often we get away to simple places for vacation because we know we need the rest.

God calls us to rest.

The Gospels record many moments where Jesus withdrew from the crowds and even from His disciples to pray. Spending time alone with the Father was a regular and ongoing habit in His life.

If we do not seek a simpler way of living, we may still grow deeper in our faith, but it is important to intentionally step away, slow down, clear our minds, and see what God has for us.

Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

If you believe that God sees you and knows you, then remember that His plans are better than yours. His teaching and instruction are exactly what we need.

I used to carefully plan everything out, and I would get frustrated when things didn’t happen the way I expected. Then I had kids, and I learned very quickly that my plans didn’t matter nearly as much as I thought they did. What mattered was keeping things simple and spending time with my family, no matter what that looked like. What mattered was seeking the Lord on His plan for things.

Life hands us a lot, and we often create a lot of unnecessary noise ourselves. But the Creator of everything — including you and me — calls us to focus on Him.

That means simplifying life. That means taking time to grow in relationship with God. It means reading your Bible to know Him and understand His Word and openly communicating with Him through prayer.

Prayer is the connection and intimacy we have in our relationship with God.

Let’s make things simpler and seek God in all things.