Faith Over Chaos

So there I was, allegedly running on the treadmill. Okay, fine — walking. Power walking? Casual strolling? Let’s just say the treadmill was moving and so was I, and that’s what counts. No judgment, right?

But here’s the weird part: I kept drifting to the right. Not metaphorically — like, physically. I was veering off like a shopping cart with a wonky wheel. I’d start in the center, all confident and balanced, and then slowly, sneakily, I’d find myself hugging the rail.

Isn’t that just like life sometimes? We set out with good intentions, hearts full of faith, eyes fixed on Jesus. But life has a way of nudging us off-center. Distractions creep in — busyness, worry, comparison, struggle — and before we know it, we’re off to the side, wondering how we got there.

But God doesn’t leave us wandering. He speaks. Gently. Faithfully.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

— Isaiah 30:21

That verse is a lifeline. It reminds me that even when I drift, God is always guiding me back — not with a megaphone, but with a whisper. He’s not interested in shaming us for losing our balance; He’s committed to helping us find it again.

I’ve had seasons where I didn’t even realize I was drifting, or I was running from truth and it moved me all the way to Pennsylvania — but that’s a story for another time. I was showing up, doing the things, checking the boxes — but my heart wasn’t in it. It wasn’t until I felt the quiet nudge, the whisper of “this is the way,” that I realized how far I’d leaned. And the beauty? God didn’t meet me with condemnation. He met me with kindness. He met me with answered prayer.

And here’s where Eden thinking comes in.

In Eden, humanity walked with God — no drifting, no wandering, just pure communion. That was the original design. My walk on the treadmill reminded me that even when we take a wrong turn or lose our footing, He’s there to guide us back. All we have to do is talk with Him.

And when the path feels dim or unclear, His Word lights the way.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

— Psalm 119:105

It’s not a floodlight that shows the whole journey at once — it’s a lamp, just bright enough for the next faithful step. Especially when the steps feel out of balance.

Walking closely with God — in the busyness, the chaos, the trials — is choosing restoration over distraction, truth over comfort, and holiness over self-destruction. It’s not a path of restriction; it’s a path of purpose. A path back to the garden.

Helping you find peace in the garden again— because even treadmills can teach us how to walk in step with Him.

Step into the garden for a moment.

Before you rush back into the busyness, consider these questions. Let them draw you closer to the One who walks with you.

1. Where in your life do you notice yourself drifting — spiritually, emotionally, or relationally?
2. What distractions tend to pull you off-center most often?
3. Are you “checking the boxes” in your faith, or walking in intentional communion with God?
4. What does “walking closely with God” look like for you right now?