Finding Peace in a World That Never Unplugs

I don’t use my cellphone very much. I know—in this day and time, that probably sounds a little ridiculous, and it might even give away my age, or even make me sound older than I am.

As I’m writing this in the evening, my cellphone has already been turned off for the night. It’s been off since around 7 p.m., and honestly, that’s pretty normal for me. One reason I’m not so dependent on it is because we still have a good old-fashioned landline. Since I work from home, I use it for business, and the people closest to me know they can reach me there if there’s ever an emergency, even during the night.

I do text, but I stink at it. I do my best proofreading after I hit send, lol. My family knows—if you want to talk, just call me. I do all my work on my desktop too—emails, social media, everything. So I guess over time, I’ve just become a little detached from my phone. I’ve even been known to head to the grocery store and accidentally leave it sitting on the counter at home. And you know what? I don’t panic.

But it makes me wonder…when did that become so unusual?

There was a time when we drove an hour away to go shopping and didn’t have a phone with us. We took long road trips with our kids, relying on maps, conversations, and a whole lot of patience. We weren’t constantly reachable—and somehow, everything was just fine.

These days, it feels like we’ve grown uncomfortable with even a few minutes of disconnection. A misplaced phone can create instant anxiety. A missed call or unread text can feel urgent, even when it’s not.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m thankful for my cellphone. It’s a helpful tool, and it makes many things easier. But somewhere along the way, what was meant to serve us has started to control us.

Maybe it’s not just about our phones. Maybe it’s about what we’re allowing to fill every quiet moment of our lives.

When my phone is off, something beautiful happens. The noise fades. The constant pull for attention quiets down. And in that stillness, I find space to think, to breathe, and to listen.

It’s often in those unplugged moments that I feel closest to God.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Stillness doesn’t come easily in a world that’s always buzzing. But sometimes, the very thing we need most is to step away from the noise—even just for a little while—and remember that we don’t have to be available to everyone at every moment. We were never created to live that way.

I’ve found that when I allow a little more quiet into my day, something shifts. Not because phones are bad, but because our hearts need space.

Space to rest. Space to reconnect. Space to hear the gentle voice that often gets lost in the noise.

Because in the quiet, we’re reminded of what truly matters—and who is always there, patiently waiting for us to notice.

March 29, 2026 Morning Brew

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