The Candid Christian

Ease. Peace. Stillness. Rest.

These were the words that kept recurring in the prayers I received on my birthday.

Each prayer felt gentle, yet deeply intentional—almost as though God was underlining a message He had already been speaking to my heart for some time. As I listened, something within me kept agreeing quietly: Yes, Lord. This is what You’ve been saying.

What made those prayers even more meaningful was the realization that this theme did not begin on my birthday. God had been teaching me about stillness weeks earlier.

When God Begins a Conversation in Secret

On November 15, 2025, during The Candid Christian Community retreat held at Mount Carmel, Ifewara, Osun State, Nigeria, the Lord began to draw my attention to stillness.

Not doing more.

Not striving harder.

Not rushing to the next thing.

But learning to be still with Him.

In the quiet moments of that retreat—away from the noise, expectations, and constant movement of life—I sensed a clear invitation from God: “Come and rest. Be still with Me.”

At first, it felt uncomfortable. Life was full. There was much to steward. Yet the instruction remained gentle and firm. Stillness was not optional—it was necessary.

Turning Stillness Into a Practice

I chose to respond in obedience.

I began to intentionally practice stillness: sitting quietly before God, sometimes with Scripture, sometimes with worship, and sometimes with no words at all—just presence.

Over time, it became a habit.

And slowly, it became a place of rest.

Stillness began to reshape my inner world. It quieted anxiety, softened my heart, and created room for God’s peace to lead. I started to understand that stillness is not inactivity; it is trust. It is a posture of surrender that says, “God, You are in control.”

A Birthday Prayer That Confirmed the Season

On my birthday, my friend Ugochukwu prayed a Scripture over me that felt like divine confirmation—echoed by a few others as well. It was Philippians 4:6–7 (TPT), and it captured perfectly what God had been teaching me in this season of stillness:

“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 4:6–7 (TPT)

That opening line—“Don’t be pulled in different directions”—settled deeply in my heart.

Because that is exactly what stillness does. It gathers the scattered pieces of our hearts and re-centers them in God’s presence.

Stillness Is Where Peace Learns to Lead

Through this journey, I’ve learned that God’s peace does not wait for everything to be resolved. It comes when everything is surrendered.

Stillness has taught me to pray without panic, to sit without rushing outcomes, and to rest without guilt. It has shown me how to bring every detail of my life before God—not just the polished or spiritual parts, but the ordinary, messy, and uncertain ones too.

And in that place, peace stands guard.

Not a fragile peace.

Not a circumstantial peace.

But a peace that transcends human understanding.

A Prayer for You

As you read this, I want to pray these words over you, in Jesus’ name.

May you not be pulled in different directions.

May anxiety lose its grip on your heart.

May you be saturated in prayer rather than pressured by performance.

May the Lord teach you how to bring every detail of your life before Him with faith and thanksgiving.

And may the wonderful peace of God—peace that surpasses all understanding—guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

May stillness become your refuge.

May rest become your rhythm.

May ease and peace meet you right where you are.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.