It’s not just a new routine that steals our stillness. It can be old bad habits that we just can’t kick. A big stillness stealer for me is contentedness, or rather, the lack of it in my life.

I’m by nature a perfectionist and a driven, type A personality. While this helps me get a lot done in a very efficient manner, it also means it’s hard for me to just sit and enjoy the present blessings in my life. I’m one of those people that frequently uses the phrase…”I’ll be happy when…”

Besides perfectionism, other stillness stealers come in the form of jealousy, greed, and envy. Don’t think you have a problem? Don’t tell me you haven’t played the comparing game on Facebook (or Pinterest or Instagram or Twitter).

The truth of the matter is God gives us exactly what we need, when we need it. The problem we face is our denial of that. Our society is part of the problem with its “Keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, but it’s not just an American culture thing. It’s a sinful nature thing. And it totally steals our stillness.

Trust gets replaced with worry. A peaceful heart gets replaced with frantic, breathless striving. A healthy content soul turns into an ugly, oozing sore of envy and greed.

How does this happen? Well, for one, we’re doing more looking around than looking up. Another cause is pure delusion. We’re comparing our nitty gritty life with everyone else’s highlight reel (or so the saying goes about Facebook).

It’s time to shove it all aside. It’s time to settle down. It’s time to take a deep breath, confess it off our hearts, ask for a big helping of forgiveness, and pray for the peace we so desperately need. I need it so bad.