The Quiet Chaplain

There’s a particular kind of quiet that shows up in early January—the hush after the noise fades and the pressure returns: Fix it. Prove it. Become better—fast. Resolutions aren’t wrong. They often come from honest desires. But they can turn heavy quickly because they’re usually built on intensity and willpower. When life interrupts (and it always does), resolutions can become a scoreboard: success means you’re “disciplined,” failure means you’re not. One missed day becomes a reason to quit. Rhythms are different. A resolution says, “I will.” A rhythm says, “I return.” Resolutions focus on outcomes. Rhythms focus on patterns. Resolutions are often brittle—one crack feels like failure. Rhythms are resilient. They make room for real life, for exhaustion, for grief, for busy seasons… and still bring you back to what’s true. And spiritually, that matters. Scripture often uses slow words: abide, remain, walk, grow, wait, be still. God’s work in us is rarely rushed. The slow way ...

Photo by  Kelly Sikkema  on  Unsplash As the new year unfolds, I find myself reflecting not on resolutions, but on rhythm. Not on how fast I can get somewhere, but on who I’m becoming along the way. Every January carries its own pressure — the blank pages, the goals, the desire to start strong and fix what feels broken. But if the past few years have taught me anything, it’s that the most sacred work of God in our lives rarely happens quickly. The Spirit does not rush transformation. Grace grows slow. That’s why my theme for this year — both personally and for  The Quiet Chaplain  — is simple: No Quick Fix in 2026. Slow grace. Steady growth. Learning to Trust God’s Timing Romans 12:2 (NLT) reminds us, “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” That little word  let  matters. It’s an invitation to  allow  God to do what only He can do — in His time, in His way. Transformation is not a weekend project; it’s a lifet...