Unplug to Connect

Text messages.

Phone calls.

Facebook posts.

Twitter updates.

Emails.

Smart phones.

Laptops.

Instead of thinks that go “bump” in the night, we have things that go “beep” in the night. No matter where we go, in today’s world it is normal to be constantly connected; just one click away from another person. Or hundreds of people.

As I write this, my phone is just a few inches away, with the volume turned up halfway. As I consider turning it off, thoughts immediately begin dancing in front of my mind.

What if the person I have dinner plans with cancels? How would I ever know in time? What if my husband needs me? What if someone from work tries to call me to tell me something important?

When was the last time you turned off your cell phone? Or did you know you could even do that to an iPhone (or any smartphone, for that matter)? Why are we afraid to disconnect from the world?

I believe one part of this is that we feel indispensable within our responsibilities. We like knowing things as soon as they happen, as if it would make our responses any more effective. Sometimes it would, but quite often, what other people need from us can wait fifteen minutes.

Jesus had many things to take care of while He was on earth. There were sick people that needed to be healed, blind people that needed to see, and those twelve disciples that He was teaching and preparing. His disciples, after all, needed to learn as much as possible while He was here, right?

This is where we learn what the most important connection is. Let’s look at Matthew 14:22-25 together, which takes place right after Jesus feeds the 5,000 people:

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

The disciples needed Jesus to help them, yet Jesus put time in God’s presence before everything else. Jesus knew that the wind would stop, and that the disciples were not in any severe danger.

This made me think: If Jesus was not too busy to spend time with God, then why are we? Why do we feel like we must constantly be available to everyone, at the expense of being available for God?

God created this world, and He is capable to watch over our situations while we spend time in His presence.  

Take just ten minutes today, turn off your phone (or leave it on silent in the other room), and spend those ten minutes with God. Read the Bible, sing along to your favorite worship song…and trust that God is taking care of everything that you’re concerned about.