From Scrolling to Surrender: Finding the Presence of Jesus in a Distracted World
- Olivia Caldwell
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Yesterday afternoon I sat at my kitchen table with tears rolling down my face.
It had been five days. Five days of no social media. Five days without non-stop scrolling. Five days without short form videos pumping fear, comparison, covetousness and a high of dopamine into me as my brain was literally actually being rotted. Five days with less running to pick up my phone at the first sign of boredom, anxiety and overwhelm.
I was sitting at the table, having a snack... and that was it. Moments before I had been frustrated and running about. Now, sitting at the table, my mind began to wander (since it actually could) and I found myself thinking of the sweet presence of Jesus.
I was longing to be with Him again... and since I was just sitting and not gorging myself with distraction after distraction, I was able to discern what my heart truly needed in that moment.
I needed Him.
I realized that He was inviting me to come away with Him, to go into my room and shut the door. And how my heart longed to just sit with my Bible open and behold Jesus. How my heart wanted nothing more than to thank Him for the cross, for His precious blood that purchased me and for His perfect love.
I determined to just go in that split second of a moment... and then the cat threw up on the rug. Someone had a crisis. In the midst of the chaos, my eye caught sight of something that really needed to be done.
Immediately distractions came. Immediately about a thousand other things became very urgent. Immediately everything and everyone else demanded to be tended to.
But Jesus had called me. And I needed to respond.
So I cleaned up the mess, talked with the child who needed help and left the thing that needed to be done. The thing could wait; this invitation could not.
I did the things and then found my bedroom (and every other room) occupied so I grabbed my Bible and knelt on the bathroom floor. I was desperate. And only in Jesus could a dirty bathroom floor become the Holy of Holies.
Immediately I was caught up in His presence, in His glory. Immediately His Word filled my mind. Immediately the Gospel became my food, my bread for today. Immediately gratitude consumed me.
He has made us a people for His own possession. He has put His name on us. Jesus has purchased us by His precious blood. He has chosen us and redeemed us. It was His joy to do so.
He has washed us and cleansed us. He has filled us with His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus and the Spirit that proceedeth from the Father. We are actually new creations and Jesus is actually our Life.
The presence of God is what sets us apart and we truly have not been left as orphans. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is Faithful and True. He is able to keep us until the end. And He really is returning.
Visions of His return filled my mind and hope welled up in me. "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow..." This was happening in me and it was glorious.
Two glorious hours with Jesus went by as if it were five minutes. I would have traded this for nothing. Nothing. And yet... I have been trading Him for everything. How many times could I have been with Jesus and I chose to scroll? How many times has He called to me and I have busied myself with the things that demanded my attention? How many times have I missed getting caught up in His beautiful face because my phone has been in mine?
It is time to put away our distractions. It is time to take an honest look at our lives and see many things for what they truly are. Yes, we have many things to take care of. There is endless work for our hands. And yes, we can do these things with Him and unto Him, for His glory.
But far too often are we trading the Eternal for the temporary. And it is killing us. We are wasting away. We are anxious and exhausted when Jesus is our very peace and rest. We are starving and malnourished when He is our food. We are discouraged and downcast when He is our Hope, our Help and the Lifter of our Heads.
There are countless promises at our disposal. There are mercies that are new and that are to be experienced every morning. There are countless ways that the Father has loved us recorded in His precious Word. We cannot afford to be ignorant and unaware, unguarded and unequipped, unhealed and unfilled. The time is too short. The hour is urgent. We need Him. We need Him! And so, so many others do, too.
We are told to "be being filled" with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). We are told to "set our minds on things above" to "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God".
This means even when we do not feel like it. This means even when we are tired. Even when we are bored. Even when we are busy. Even when we don't feel anything.
This week, what is something that you can put away in order to create time and space to be with Jesus? Where in your day can you set aside 10, 20 or 30 minutes to go into your room and shut the door to pray to your Father who is in secret and who sees what is done in secret?
The promise is that He rewards you- He rewards you with Himself.
He is wonderful and He is filled with compassion. He really does move toward you. You are His beloved. You are loved and kept by Jesus.
Commit to give Him your time and do not despise small beginnings. Make room for Him and wait and watch as He fills it and you.
As the days go by, linger a little longer. Read just one more chapter or verse when you feel like stopping. Thank Him one more time. Turn and look at Him once more. Whisper His name again. Sing one more song.
Make this your habit. Little offerings to Jesus that add up to a life wholly given to the One who is everything.
He is beautiful. He is all in all. He is worthy of our time and our attention.
Make room for the King of glory to enter in.
Why not take just a few minutes right now? I know, you've made it to the end of this article. And by the way, thank you, truly. But why not just start now and give just a bit more of your time?
Jesus is calling.
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