Simple, Not Easy

Inspired by Peaceful Porches

So many goals in life are simple to achieve. Connection with family members grows with uninterrupted time together. Wealth comes with spending less and investing the remainder. Weight loss requires eating clean and exercising daily. The instructions seem so basic and simple. However, they are rarely easy.

The instruction I especially find to be simple but not easy is the call for us to live as Jesus did. His life was busy and full, yet he was never hurried and definitely lived simply.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

– Galatians 2:20

We are instructed to place all trust in Him and live by faith. We are given stories of the life we’re meant to emulate, the life of Jesus.

I have short, simple phrases on a chalkboard hanging next to our dining table to describe the way Jesus lived as a guide for my family. This is a rudimentary interpretation of how to walk through life like Jesus did:

Go for a long walk. Simple. Love others. Simple. Ask questions and listen for the answers. Simple. Invite others in for a meal or a chat. Simple. Find solitude and rest. Simple.

If the principles are simple, why is it so difficult to implement them?

We are human. We’re sinners. We’re easily distracted and easily charmed by the ways of this world. We enjoy material possessions. We can be manipulated by marketing and advertising. We like to be entertained, even by immoral people and practices. We are stubborn and headstrong. We think we know better about how to live a full life.

Our lives are certainly full. My life, in particular, is full of responding to kids’ needs, cooking, cleaning, gardening, soccer practices and games, errands, calendar planning, homeschooling, friends and social activities, travel, budgeting, investing, reading, writing, and so much more. I’m sure your list is just as long too. We have busy lives, affording little time left over to focus on how to yield to the Holy Spirit and live as Jesus taught us.

The good news is that it’s possible to have both. We just have to prioritize the simple. We have to redeem our time in order to live like our Redeemer. In Jordan Raynor’s book, Redeeming Our Time, the author lays out 7 principles for living a more purposeful, productive, and present life that would emulate the life of Jesus much more closely than how most of us live today. The 7 principles are:

• Start with the Word
• Let your Yes be Yes
• Dissent from the Kingdom of Noise
• Prioritize your Yeses
• Accept your Unipresence
• Embrace Productive Rest
• Eliminate All Hurry

I recommend checking out his book and/or his week-long devotional through the Bible app. It’s a great way to get started on living more simply yet remaining focused on the gifts and purpose the Lord has set for your life.

I’d also recommend finding a place that allows you to separate from the noise of this world, rest and renew yourself, and pray without distraction. Until we intentionally center our lives around the simple, we will continue to let the frenzy of this world lead us away from our purpose. I’m most certainly aware, though, that this is much easier said than done.

When I need to find solitude and a little quiet time to focus, I love stepping out onto my back porch or the porch of any home we stay in while traveling. Although I can hear the sounds of birds, cicadas, cars, and children playing in back yards, I feel a sense of peace as soon as I shut the door and breathe in the fresh air. It’s often where I read, pray, write, and do yoga. That place of solitude is different for each person and at each home, but it’s so essential for embracing the simple side of life. I hope you’ve found yours.