When my mind feels cluttered and my heart feels crowded, I often wish I could just check out. Knowing that was not a real solution, I decided to start decluttering the house. I’ve finished one closet and still have a few more to go, but there’s already more space. I’ve also noticed a shift in my cluttered mind and crowded heart. Cleaning the closet wasn’t a practical solution, but it was helpful. The most practical thing I found to do was to pray.

Maybe cleaning helps you clear your thoughts, or maybe it’s time to chat with a best friend. Maybe it’s sitting in your car for a few minutes to listen to your favorite song. Whatever helps you most, do just that. I’ve felt the clutter and crowdedness within me and had to do the most practical thing: pray.

While I feel alone in it, I know that I’m not. Maybe everyday life and the constant noise of worldly things have pushed you past your limit, too. Sometimes I want to sit across the table with a friend and try to process this internal struggle, but I know that the One within me is waiting for me. It’s in times like these that I move from the social places to the secret place.

We can talk to Jesus about it. The One within us, who knows us best, will listen and provide the most sound counsel.

Even if you feel like you can’t get out of a rut that you cannot even explain, there is always hope. Rather than stepping ahead and trying to put things behind us, sometimes, we need to trust the process.

Here are some practical things I am learning to do right now:

Pray. Have a conversation with the Most High.

Change your rhythm. We are creatures of routine. Change things up. Start with one small thing that you can do each day that is life-giving to you.

Move. Mind racing? Take a walk. The simple act of moving can shift our focus for the better.

As I share my cluttered thoughts with Jesus, He reminds me that He can detangle it all. By releasing all the pounding in my heart right now, Jesus makes it such a more spacious place when I invite Him into it all. I can say, with confidence, that when I shared my frustrations and disappointments with Him, I felt the weight lifted.

He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:19

Entering the secret place, settling into the Word of Truth, and talking to our Counselor, we find a carefree space. We are unconfined, able to safely share every hurt and rejoice in every beauty.

The more we talk it out with Christ, the more our thoughts will settle and our hearts will lift.

The more we turn to the secret place, the more we encounter the power and hope of Christ.

The more we are honest with ourselves, the more we can see that God truly designed us fearfully and wonderfully.

When we get caught up in cluttered thoughts, we lose sight of the beauty within us. While we don’t intend to drift so far away, our thoughts can often get ahead of us. The good news is God can help us with our racing thoughts and the ones that slowly sneak in. 

We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:19

While slowing the drift of our consuming thoughts can seem far from reach, God is always close. God’s truth is near, and we can find reassurance because our hope anchors us securely with our Savior.

Just as God anchors our souls, He secures our minds, too, through His Word of truth. With Christ as our anchor, we never have to be consumed. The overwhelm subsides as we center our thoughts back on Christ. Rest assured, we have an anchor, one that can hold our thoughts steady and opens are our hearts.

If you don’t feel okay, that’s okay. While I am still in the process of organizing my thoughts and creating space in my heart, I haven’t quite reached that point. I will continue to pray and ground myself in the truth.

We’re not alone. Keep praying. Change your rhythm. Keep moving.