Why Reflection is the Renewal We Desperately Need
“And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” (James 3:10 NLT). That’s the Bible making it clear—opposing forces like blessing and cursing, peace and worry, cannot thrive in the same space. We have to choose.
Here’s something I’ve found to be true—not just from scripture, but from life: You can’t have more of one thing unless you have less of something else. You just can’t. Two things can’t occupy the same space at the same time.
- So, if I want more peace in my life, I’ve got to have less noise.
- If I want more clarity, I need less distraction.
- And if I want to experience real rest—deep, soul-level renewal—then I’ve got to stop long enough to reflect.
And let me tell you, that’s not easy for me. Maybe it’s not easy for you either.
We Don’t Slow Down—Even When We Know We Should
We’re wired for action. I know I am. We make plans. We create strategies. We check boxes and move on to the next thing. Even in ministry, we can stay so busy doing the work of God that we forget to listen to God.
But every now and then I’ve got to ask myself a question—and maybe you do too:
“Why am I doing this?”
That’s not just a productivity question. That’s a motive question. And it’s a powerful one. Because it causes me to stop. To take a breath. To reflect on whether what I’m doing is really what God is asking of me—or just what I’ve gotten used to doing.
We’ve all got to stop from time to time and reflect.
If we don’t—we lose track of who we are, and more importantly, where God is trying to lead us.
Worry and Reflection Can’t Share the Same Space
I want to reflect more—and worry less. That’s one of the first things I wrote down in my own “more and less” list.
Now that might sound simple, but I’ll be honest—it hit me hard. Because we live in a world that rewards worry. It sounds productive. It sounds responsible. But let me tell you something: worry and reflection are not the same. In fact, they can’t occupy the same space at the same time.
Worry is circular. It goes around and around and around. It’s an emotional treadmill—we burn all kinds of energy, but we don’t actually go anywhere. Worry drains us. It fills our heads with fear and worst-case scenarios and what-ifs.
Reflection, on the other hand, is different. It’s quiet. It’s slow. It’s intentional. It doesn’t spiral—it settles.
When I reflect, I pause and ask:
- Why am I doing this?
- Why do I feel this way?
- What does God want from me here?
Worry makes the problem bigger. Reflection brings the truth into focus.
Dale Carnegie once said—“If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess…”
And he’s right. Reflection makes room for gratitude. Worry makes room for anxiety. And both of them can’t live in your heart at the same time.
So for me, reflection is a kind of rest. It’s that moment where I sit down with my yellow pad or stare out the window with a cup of coffee, and just say, “Lord, speak. I’m listening.”
And you know what? When I reflect, the worry starts to shrink. Because God starts to speak.
The Apostle Paul encourages, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7 ESV).
Worry doesn’t guard us—God’s peace does.
And that peace begins with a shift in focus, a quiet moment of reflection.
God’s Perspective Comes When We Get Above It
Sometimes in life and ministry we get so caught in the weeds that we forget the bigger picture. But friends, there’s something bigger going on than our day-to-day checklists. There’s a cosmic battle happening—and we’re part of it.
So if we don’t stop and reflect, we lose sight of where we fit in that battle. We forget who’s really in control.
Romans 12:2 reminds us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (NKJV). That renewal doesn’t happen when we’re stuck in busyness. It happens when we pause long enough to let God reframe our thoughts.
We’ve got to get above it—because God’s got something going on that’s much bigger than our daily little checklist.
Your One Thing Today: Make Space
If you’re feeling burned out, scattered, overwhelmed—maybe what you need most isn’t a vacation, or a nap, or even a new planner. Maybe what you need is space.
Just a few quiet minutes with God. A yellow pad and a question:
“Lord, what’s really going on in my heart?”
Make that space, and I promise—God will meet you there.
Because if I want more of that clarity and peace, then I’ve got to be intentional about having less of the noise, the rush, and yes, the worry. I want more reflection, less reactivity. More prayer, less panic.
Reflection is rest. It’s the rest we often refuse—but desperately need.
So, can I challenge you today? Just for the next 24 hours—be intentional. Take five minutes. Turn everything off. Ask yourself the question: “Why am I doing this?”
You may find that in the stillness, God speaks more clearly than He has in days. And that, my friend, is where true renewal begins.
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