By Miriam Rees
Introduction
The older I get, the more I realize that my soul isn’t craving perfection, luxury, or a life filled with constant productivity. What I find myself longing for most these days is peace—a simpler way of living that leaves room for God, meaningful relationships, quiet moments, and the things that truly matter. As life has become busier, louder, and more complicated, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to the slower rhythms that help me feel grounded, present, and connected to what is most important.
What I truly crave is peace.
I think part of that longing comes from the way I grew up. I was raised Amish out in the country where life moved slower, evenings felt quieter, and people spent more time together without constant distractions pulling their attention away.
We didn’t have television, social media, or the nonstop noise that fills so much of life today.
Even though life wasn’t perfect, there was a quietness to it that still stays with me.
Life Feels Overwhelmingly Loud Now
Sometimes I think modern life has become emotionally exhausting in ways we don’t even fully recognize anymore.
Everything moves fast:
- notifications
- schedules
- expectations
- social media
- constant information
- endless comparison
Even rest often feels rushed.
Most people rarely sit still long enough to fully breathe, think, or simply exist without distraction for a few minutes.
And honestly, I think many of us are emotionally exhausted because our minds never truly slow down anymore.
Simple Living Feels Like Exhaling
When I think about the moments that bring me the most peace, they’re usually very ordinary things:
- coffee early in the morning
- sitting outside during a thunderstorm
- homemade meals
- quiet evenings
- candlelight
- fresh air
- worship music softly playing
- conversations around a table
- slowing down enough to notice life
Those moments may not look impressive to the world, but they feel deeply healing to me.
Simple living feels like exhaling emotionally after carrying too much for too long.
I Think We Were Created for Slower Rhythms
I honestly don’t believe we were designed to constantly live overstimulated, overwhelmed, distracted, and emotionally rushed.
Our minds rarely rest now, and our attention is constantly divided between responsibilities, screens, and pressure.
One thing I miss about simpler living is how present people used to be with one another.
People spent evenings on their porches talking with family, stopping by a neighbor’s house for a visit, preparing meals from scratch, and gathering together to watch storms roll across the countryside. There was a slower pace to life that made it easier to be present and appreciate the simple moments.
There was a deeper sense of connection in ordinary moments.
Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy
I think sometimes people romanticize simple living and assume it means life becomes easy.
It doesn’t.
Simple living still includes:
- hard seasons
- grief
- stress
- responsibilities
- uncertainty
- emotional struggles
But there’s a difference between a difficult life and a constantly distracted one.
Simple living creates room to breathe inside the hard seasons instead of constantly drowning in noise.
My Health Journey Changed What I Value
Walking through illness changed my perspective on life in ways I never expected.
Idiopathic subglottic stenosis forced me to slow down physically and emotionally, while losing my mom changed the way I view time, relationships, and what truly matters.
Perimenopause added another layer of emotional and physical change.
All of those experiences together made me realize how little the world’s version of success actually matters if your soul constantly feels exhausted.
I no longer want a life that simply looks good from the outside.
I want a life that feels peaceful on the inside too.
God Often Speaks in Quiet Places
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is this:
God often feels closest in quiet moments.
Not because He disappears during busy seasons, but because constant noise makes it harder for us to notice Him.
I think that’s one reason simple living still speaks to my soul so deeply.
Quiet creates space:
- space to think
- space to breathe
- space to pray
- space to heal
- space to notice beauty
- space to hear God more clearly
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
Stillness matters more than we realize.
I Don’t Need More Noise
The older I get, the less interested I become in chasing a life filled with pressure, constant busyness, endless hustle, and distractions that leave me feeling drained instead of fulfilled. What I find myself wanting now is a life that feels more peaceful, purposeful, and present.
I think my soul simply wants peace now.
Not a perfect life, but a meaningful one.
What I find myself longing for now is a slower, more grounded life—one that leaves room for God, family, quiet mornings with a cup of coffee, meaningful conversations around the table, and the ordinary moments that often become the most treasured memories. In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, I’ve discovered that some of life’s greatest blessings are found in simply slowing down enough to appreciate what truly matters.
There’s Beauty in Ordinary Things
Simple living has taught me that some of the most meaningful parts of life are also the most ordinary.
Fresh coffee in the morning.
Rain against the windows.
Warm bread in the kitchen.
A quiet sunset.
A hug from someone you love.
Laughing around the dinner table.
Those are often the moments that stay with us the longest.
Devotional Thought
Perhaps your soul isn’t longing for more achievement, another accomplishment, or one more thing to add to your to-do list. Maybe what feels missing is rest, stillness, and the freedom to simply slow down. In a world that constantly tells us to do more and be more, sometimes what we truly need is the peace that comes from stepping back, taking a deep breath, and allowing ourselves to simply be present.
The world constantly tells us to do more, rush more, and become more. But sometimes God meets us most deeply in the slow, quiet, ordinary moments we’re tempted to overlook.
Prayer
Lord,
Help me slow down enough to notice the life You’ve placed in front of me.
Teach me to value peace over pressure, presence over perfection, and meaningful moments over constant busyness. Remind me that simple things are often sacred too.
Amen.
