Faith Quick Charge - Drowning in the Shallows

The value of margin in our lives for finding the deeper things of God.

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There’s something deceivingly safe about shallow waters. You can wade, splash, and feel in control. But we fear going too deep, that the tide might pull us further from the comfort and safety of the shore. What if the real danger isn’t in the deep but in thinking that the shallow is enough?

Many believers live their spiritual lives in the shallows, wading between distractions, responsibilities, and fleeting ambitions. They don’t reject God, but they don’t pursue Him deeply either. They are constantly busy, constantly striving, constantly consuming - yet spiritually, they remain stagnant.

Jesus warned about this danger when He described seed sown among thorns: “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). The problem isn’t that the seed never took root - it’s that preoccupation with worldly ambitions and concerns suffocated its growth.

Martha, too, was drowning in the shallows. She busied herself with preparations while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Martha wasn’t wrong to serve, but her distraction kept her from devotion.

We often think of the enemy’s grand scheme as deceiving us into rebellion against God, but in reality, it is keeping us distracted from thinking about God. As C.S. Lewis illustrates in The Screwtape Letters, the devil does not need to turn us against God; he only needs to keep us too preoccupied to seek God fully. "It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out." - The Screwtape Letters, Letter IV.

Satan wants our lives fill with noise - social media, endless obligations, financial worries, and the relentless pursuit of busyness. In this way, the pull of busyness is not so different from the spiritual emptiness of consumerism described in a previous message in this series - The Devil’s Tapeworm. Instead of an insatiable hunger for more, this is a slow erosion of what matters most.

Simplicity is not just about decluttering our homes; it’s about decluttering our lives. Jesus invites us to step away from the constant striving and seek something deeper: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). This stillness is an intentional choice - a resistance against a world that equates worth with productivity and success. It is in the quiet, in the surrendered space, that we encounter the fullness of God’s presence.

The pursuit of simplicity in faith means cutting away the distractions that hinder us. It means choosing eternal priorities over temporary ambitions. It means seeing through the lie that more responsibilities, more possessions, and more achievements will bring fulfillment.

Paul advises us to - “Run in such a way as to get the prize… a crown that will last forever." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). Stepping out of the shallows requires loosening our grip on the things that clutter our lives and keep us spiritually running in place instead of running the race. Our race calls us to run to a deeper place.

The deep waters of His presence are waiting - peace, contentment, and true joy are found there. The question is, are we willing to leave the distractions behind?

Author’s Note: This weekend we conclude our teaching series about simplicity. I welcome your thoughts about these messages in the comments below. If this particular message encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who is struggling to find margin in their life. May God bless you and keep you free.

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