Unplug to Reconnect
Making Space for Peace, Prayer, and Presence
When we set aside our screens, we make room to hear God’s voice together
The Night the Lights Went Out
A few years ago, on a chilly December evening, our power went out during a rainstorm. The house fell completely silent — no humming appliances, no television murmuring in the background, no notifications lighting up the room. For a moment, everything felt still. We lit a few candles, gathered blankets, and settled into the living room together. There was nothing to “do” except be present.
But something beautiful happened that night.
We talked.
We laughed.
We prayed.
And we felt a peace that had been missing for far too long.
When the lights finally came back on, no one reached for a phone. No one hurried to turn on the TV. Instead, we stayed just as we were — the room warm and glowing, hearts unhurried, the quiet wrapping around us like a long-lost friend.
Later, I realized: It wasn’t the power outage that brought peace. It was the absence of noise.
Sometimes God will allow our world to pause just long enough for us to notice how loud it has become.
The Season of Noise
The Christmas season is undeniably beautiful — shimmering lights, festive gatherings, family traditions layered with meaning. Yet it can also become the noisiest time of year. Our phones ding with sales and shipping alerts. Social media is filled with photos of perfectly decorated homes. The calendar is crowded with parties, programs, and responsibilities. Our to-do list gets longer, while our patience often gets shorter.
Noise, even cheerful noise, can wear a heart thin.
One gentle truth we often forget is this:
The human soul was not designed to live at full volume.
When every moment is filled with alerts, conversations, obligations, and screens, we lose the quiet where God whispers. The world becomes like a radio that’s slightly off frequency — we can hear the music, but the static keeps interrupting. A little volume adjustment isn’t enough. Sometimes we must turn things off to hear again.
Seeking Quiet on Purpose
Scripture tells us something profound about the rhythm of Jesus’ life:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”
— Mark 1:35
Jesus deliberately sought silence.
This wasn’t an accident or a convenience — it was a spiritual necessity. The crowds were constant. Needs were everywhere. Yet Jesus chose moments of holy stillness to reconnect with His Father.
If Jesus — the Son of God — needed quiet space, how much more do we?
In a world where interruptions never sleep, we must choose the kind of quiet that doesn’t happen on its own. Stillness isn’t passive; it is intentional. It takes courage to step out of the noise and say, “Lord, You matter more.”
Unplugged moments turn Christmas baking into treasured memories.
Presence Over Pressure
Think for a moment about the moments you remember most vividly from Christmases past. Are they the rushed errands? The frantic wrapping? The late-night scrolling for last-minute deals? Of course not.
We remember:
a child’s sleepy eyes reflecting the glow of the tree
a grandparent telling a story from long ago
hands gathered around the table to pray
laughter filling a room
the warmth of a home where people are fully there
These are memories of presence, not pressure. But presence requires attention, and attention requires quiet. Technology itself is not the enemy — it is simply an untamed tool. But if we never pause long enough to breathe, we slowly forget what real connection feels like. Unplugging is not about deprivation. It’s about restoration.
Unplugging Creates Sacred Space
When we intentionally put down our phones, silence our notifications, and step away from screens, something shifts inside us:
1. Peace Has Room to Settle
The mind quiets. The heart softens. Worry loses its grip.
Peace becomes audible again.
2. Prayer Finds a Natural Home
It’s easier to speak with God when distractions stop shouting.
The quiet becomes a doorway.
3. Presence Feels Possible
We look into the eyes of the people we love.
We notice details we often miss.
We slow down long enough to enjoy one another.
And most importantly…
4. We Hear Jesus More Clearly
In the quiet, His words feel closer:
“Come to Me, all who are weary…”
“My peace I give you…”
“I am with you always…”
Unplugging helps us reconnect with the One who never loses signal.
Teaching children to share responsibilities during Christmas can create joyful moments.
A Tech-Free Advent Evening
Here is a gentle tradition your family can begin this year — one that doesn’t require perfection, planning, or Pinterest-level anything.
Choose one evening each week in December.
No phones
No television.
No tablets.
Just quiet.
Light a few candles.
Let the room glow softly.
Read Luke 2 together.
Take turns.
Let children read.
Let grandparents read.
Let the story breathe.
Sing a Christmas carol — even if off-key.
Jesus listens to hearts, not pitch.
Talk about what you’re thankful for.
Share one moment from the week where God showed His faithfulness.
You might be surprised at how quickly peace enters the room.
And here’s the sweet part:
That quiet evening will become the memory your children carry into adulthood.
Not the gifts.
Not the décor.
The quiet.
The togetherness.
The presence.
Stepping away from the noise lets us rediscover the simple joy of being together.
Focus on Jesus
Christmas is the story of God stepping into our noisy world with gentle humility. The angels proclaimed it loudly, but Jesus arrived quietly — in a stable, in the dark, with no fanfare except starlight.
If the birth of the Savior came wrapped in stillness, perhaps stillness is where we find Him best.
So this Advent, unplug with purpose.
Not to escape life — but to embrace it.
Not to withdraw from people — but to draw closer to them.
Not to silence the world — but to hear Jesus.
May your home be filled with His peace, His presence, and His unhurried joy.
