Unplug and Unwind: Finding God’s Peace in a Wired World

In our hyper-connected world, the constant hum of notifications, the endless scroll, and the pressure to be “always on” can feel like a relentless tide. From the moment we wake to the glow of our screens to the last check before bed, our minds are bombarded with information, comparisons, and demands. For Christians seeking to deepen their faith and experience God’s presence, this wired existence presents a unique challenge: how do we find the sacred stillness required for spiritual growth when digital noise is constantly vying for our attention? How do we cultivate God’s profound peace, known as Shalom, amidst the clamor of a thousand digital voices?

It’s not about abandoning technology entirely; rather, it’s about intentionality. It’s about recognizing the spiritual and emotional toll of constant digital immersion and purposefully creating space for God to speak, for our souls to breathe, and for true peace to settle in our hearts. This journey to unplug and unwind is an invitation to prioritize our spiritual well-being, reclaim our attention, and discover the deep, abiding peace that only comes from Him.

Key Scriptures for Stillness and Peace

The Bible offers profound wisdom for navigating a busy world, even one as technologically advanced as ours. It repeatedly calls us to stillness, rest, and trust in God’s sovereignty as the pathway to true peace.

Be Still, and Know

One of the most direct commands for finding peace in quietude comes from the Psalms:

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
– Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

This verse isn’t merely suggesting a moment of silence; it’s a command to cease striving, to quiet our inner turmoil, and to surrender our worries and distractions to God. In our wired world, “being still” often means intentionally disengaging from the digital realm—turning off notifications, putting down our devices, and stepping away from the endless stream of information. It’s in this stillness that we create space to truly know God, to recognize His presence, and to remember His power and sovereignty over all things, including our frantic schedules and digital demands. When we intentionally unplug, we allow ourselves to be present to Him, trusting that He is at work even when we are not digitally engaged.

Come and Find Rest

Jesus Himself extended an invitation to those burdened by the world’s demands, an invitation that resonates deeply in our overstimulated age:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
– Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

How many of us feel weary and burdened by the constant pull of our devices, the comparison traps of social media, or the anxiety induced by endless news cycles? Jesus offers not just a temporary reprieve, but profound rest for our souls. This spiritual rest is a deep, internal peace that isn’t dependent on external circumstances. By “coming to Him,” we are invited to lay down our digital burdens, our striving for validation, and our fear of missing out. Unplugging becomes an act of faith, trusting that true rest and peace are found in His presence, not in constant connectivity. It’s an exchange: our weariness for His rest, our digital distractions for His gentle teaching.

Practical Applications for Finding God’s Peace

Intentionality is key to cultivating peace in a wired world. Here are practical, actionable steps to help you unplug and unwind, creating space for God’s presence.

Establish Tech-Free Zones and Times

Just as we create sacred spaces in our homes for prayer, we can designate certain areas and times as technology-free.
* The Dinner Table: Make meal times a sacred space for family connection and mindful eating, free from screens.
* The Bedroom: Charge your phone outside your bedroom. Use an alarm clock instead of your phone, and make your bedroom a sanctuary for rest and intimacy, not digital distraction.
* First and Last Hour: Start and end your day by connecting with God, not your phone. Avoid checking social media or emails first thing in the morning or right before bed. Instead, dedicate these times to prayer, Bible reading, or quiet reflection.

Practice a Digital Sabbath

Extend the biblical principle of Sabbath rest to your digital life.
* Weekly Disconnect: Dedicate one day a week (or a significant portion of it) to be largely or completely offline. Use this time for worship, spending time in nature, connecting with loved ones face-to-face, reading physical books, or pursuing hobbies that don’t involve screens.
* Planned Activities: Plan specific activities to fill your digital Sabbath so you’re not tempted to fall back into old habits.

Manage Notifications and Apps

Take control of your device, rather than letting it control you.
* Turn Off Non-Essential Notifications: Most apps don’t require instant attention. Turn off notifications for social media, news alerts, and non-essential emails. You can check these apps intentionally when you decide.
* Create App-Free Folders: Organize your phone to hide distracting apps. Or, consider deleting apps that are major time-wasters.
* Schedule Check-Ins: Instead of constantly checking, designate specific times during the day to check emails, messages, or social media.

Engage Mindfully Online

When you are online, be intentional and purposeful.
* Ask “Why?”: Before opening an app or clicking a link, ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? Is it serving a purpose, bringing me closer to God, or genuinely connecting me with others, or is it just a habit?”
* Set Time Limits: Use your phone’s built-in screen time tools to set daily limits for specific apps.
* Curate Your Feed: Unfollow accounts that cause comparison, anxiety, or don’t align with your spiritual growth. Fill your feeds with uplifting, encouraging, and informative content.

Testimony: Sarah’s Journey to Stillness

Sarah, a marketing professional in her late 30s, found herself perpetually exhausted and irritable. Her days were a blur of client calls, social media campaigns, and an endless stream of emails. Even outside of work, her phone was her constant companion—scrolling through Instagram during dinner, checking news alerts before bed, and waking up to a barrage of notifications. “I felt like I was always ‘on,’ but never truly present,” she recounted. “My prayer life felt shallow, my Bible lay unread, and I knew I was missing something vital, something deeper than the fleeting satisfaction of a ‘like’ or a breaking news update.”

The turning point came after a particularly stressful week that ended with a massive headache and an overwhelming sense of spiritual emptiness. Remembering Psalm 46:10, she felt a strong conviction to “be still.” She decided to try a “digital Sabbath.” For 24 hours, from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, her phone was switched off and stored in a drawer.

The first few hours were agonizing. She felt phantom vibrations, a restless urge to check her messages, and a sudden awareness of how much she relied on her phone for entertainment and distraction. But as the day progressed, something shifted. She went for a long walk in a local park, truly noticing the sunlight filtering through the trees and the sound of birdsong—things she’d previously scrolled past. She picked up a devotional book and actually read it, without interruption. She had an unhurried conversation with her husband over coffee, deeply listening and engaging without the distraction of a glowing screen between them.

“By Sunday morning, I felt like a different person,” Sarah shared, a soft smile on her face. “It wasn’t just physical rest; it was a profound peace that settled over my spirit. It was like I could finally hear God’s voice again, clear and gentle, above the digital noise. He reminded me that His peace doesn’t depend on my connectivity, but on my connection with Him.”

Sarah’s digital Sabbath became a weekly practice. She still uses her phone for work, but with renewed boundaries and intentionality. She starts her mornings with prayer before checking her device, and her evenings end with quiet reflection. “Unplugging isn’t just about disconnecting from technology,” she concludes, “it’s about reconnecting with God, with myself, and with the people and world around me. It’s where I truly find His peace.”

Encouragement and Prayer

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the desire for peace is deeply embedded within us because we are made in the image of a God who is peace. In a world that constantly pulls at our attention, remember that the Lord offers a refuge, a quiet harbor where our souls can find rest. Do not be discouraged if unplugging feels difficult at first; it’s a discipline, a muscle that grows stronger with practice. Every intentional step away from the screen and towards stillness is an act of worship, an affirmation that God is greater than any digital demand. Embrace these moments of quiet as opportunities to draw closer to the heart of God, where true Shalom resides.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we come before You, often weary and distracted by the constant demands of our wired world. Forgive us for allowing digital noise to drown out Your gentle voice and for seeking validation in fleeting connections rather than in Your eternal love. We pray for wisdom to discern when to engage and when to disengage, and for the courage to set healthy boundaries with our technology. Help us to “be still, and know that You are God,” to truly receive the rest You offer to our souls. Fill us with Your transcendent peace, O Lord, that it may guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. May our lives reflect a deeper connection with You, the source of all peace, love, and joy. Amen.

A Call to Reflection

The journey to find God’s peace in a wired world is an ongoing one, but it is deeply rewarding. It’s a call to prioritize our spiritual well-being, to reclaim our attention, and to cultivate a life centered on Christ rather than controlled by screens. Take a moment today to reflect: What is one small step you can take to unplug and create space for God’s peace in your life? Whether it’s a tech-free meal, a silent prayer walk, or simply turning off notifications for an hour, begin somewhere. Embrace the stillness, listen for His voice, and discover the profound peace that awaits you when you choose to truly unwind in His presence.