A Different Kind Of Goal

It’s the beginning of a New Year, which means many of us are setting new goals.

We’re habit stacking, building systems, writing them down—everything it takes to make things happen!

I’d be willing to bet that most of you are working extremely hard, driven by diligence and dedication to reach the pinnacle of success, striving to be the very best you can be.

And that is amazing!

Desiring to excel in what we do is an admirable attribute, and I genuinely hope you change the world with your efforts.

But this year, I want to challenge you with a different kind of goal.

One that may feel counterintuitive.

One that probably has not crossed your mind.

It’s a goal that isn’t focused on climbing higher or achieving more but is rooted in a quiet and unassuming ambition.

This goal comes from Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12:

“and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

How many of you woke up today thinking, “My goal is to live quietly”?

Anyone? Probably not many of us.

Most of us are setting goals to improve in our careers, get healthier, become better parents or spouses, or achieve something tangible and impressive.

But what is Paul getting at when he encourages us to make it our ambition to lead a quiet life?

The word he uses, hēsychazein, doesn’t mean quiet as in “hush” or “silence”. It means quiet in the sense of restfulness—the ability to settle, to be content, to be less frantic, and perhaps, less busy.

In our modern world, being busy is often equated with being important or successful. We chase the next opportunity, the next achievement, or the next stage of life. Yet in that busyness, we can miss out on appreciating who God has made us to be and what He has called us to do right now.

As a relatively new dad to a toddler, I’ve experienced firsthand how challenging it is to get a little one to sit still or focus on what’s in front of them. They’re always on the move, bouncing from one thing to the next. And sometimes, I just want to say, “Hey, can we be still for just a second? Can we appreciate the moment we just had before moving to the next thing?”

And I wonder if God, as our heavenly Father, watches us in our constant motion and thinks the same thing.

“Can we just be still for a second and appreciate the moment?”

This is why Paul’s words are so powerful.

He urges us to seek the quiet life—a life of peace, contentment, and focus on what’s right in front of us.

To live quietly doesn’t mean giving up on growth or ambition. It means being at peace with where God has you right now, while still trusting Him for the future.

You can be content and hopeful at the same time.

So today, I encourage you to ask God what He wants you to do with where you’re at.

Together, let’s leave behind the frantic life and embrace the beauty and peace of living a quiet life.

Let that be your ambition and/or goal this year.