“What is essential is invisible to the eye.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” — Socrates
The thing about rain
We’ve gotten a lot of rain the last couple weeks here in East Texas.
There are so many positives on the other side of rain. It’s cooled everything off more than typical June heat. The lake is filled up and we don’t have to worry about canceling water activities for the rest of the summer when the waterline gets too low. In about a week from now after some sun and heat, the fairways and greens are going to POP.
The thing about rain is that it does bring life — but it also makes a mess first.
I pulled into camp a few days ago on the tail end of an afternoon of intense rain and as I was turning into a parking spot my tires locked up and slid about 3 feet. I was six inches from kissing a pine tree.
It took a few minutes to back out of the spot with my wheels spinning. I couldn’t get traction.
Mud, tires, and distraction
This picture of my tires spinning in the mud jumped back into my mind while I was on a run this morning.
It seemed like for 40 minutes every time my foot hit the pavement I heard “Traction. Distraction. Traction. Distraction.”
Toward the end of my run, I thought about where I’m hoping to get traction in my life the last couple years.
This quick mental inventory seemed to synthesize down to wanting growth, progress, momentum in my outer life:
more income, more home square footage, bigger influence, better landscaping, better wardrobe, better opportunities, bigger networking, etc.
Maybe you’re spinning because you’re trying to get traction in the wrong place.
Distraction in your inner life
"In the quiet, God is more focused on who you're becoming than what you're producing." — from last week’s newsletter
As a child of God, you know this line is true. Yet it does help to be reminded sometimes.
Are you trying to get traction in the wrong place?
Have you been focused on making progress in your outer life more than your inner life?
Is your time and energy lately being put toward growth in things of this world?
or solidification and expansion to your faith, your thinking, your responses to people, your creativity, your service, your love, and the rest of your inner life?
3 ideas to get traction in your inner life
1. The outer life feels good but it can be slippery.
When I say “outer life”, I hope you picture that way of living that is focused on worldly success over Kingdom success. It’s what John calls “the pride of life”.
Our culture is captivated by motion — even if it’s directionless. Prideful movement becomes our coping mechanism. (i.e. getting more, getting bigger, getting something better.)
People celebrate the outer life. God speaks to the inner life.
“Sell it all and follow me.” — Jesus, to the rich young ruler
He got all the outer stuff he wanted — and in the end, wouldn’t let go of any of it to finally get the life he truly desired. No traction, no real success in the end.
So, where in your life are you forcing movement — expecting “results” but just spinning out?
2. The inner life is where God gains ground.
Real growth, real healing, real peace always begin inside. The inner life is where God builds traction — slowly, deeply, truly.
I want you to know that all of the moments you feel stuck, unseen, unheard, stalled, small — He is working, digging, pruning, growing, gaining ground in your heart.
Do it with Him from here.
“May He strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” — Ephesians 3:16–17, ESV excerpt
God is more interested in your inner formation than your outer forward motion.
(Though I also strongly believe He is interested in your outer life, too. Perhaps another newsletter for another day.)
What if you gave priority importance and utmost urgency to intimacy with God as you do to growing (or maintaining) your outer life?
3. Real traction often looks like stillness
God often does His deepest work when we finally stop trying to manufacture progress.
You might feel stuck or small or unseen lately, but what if you’re just being invited to stay still long enough for traction to form beneath you?
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” — Isaiah 30:15
Stillness isn’t inactivity — it’s intentional alignment.
And sometimes the only way forward is to just stop spinning.
Are you willing to surrender your desire for outer progress in exchange for true inner traction?
Presence Practice: Assess the traction.
Make 10–15 minutes this week to reflect and pray through these steps:
Write two headings in your journal: "Outer Life" and "Inner Life".
Under "Outer Life", list the things you're trying to make happen: goals, level-up’s, promotions, etc.
Under "Inner Life", ask honestly:
How’s my soul?
Where do I sense the Spirit drawing my attention?
What am I avoiding with my inner life because it feels slow or unproductive?
Prayer for this time: “Holy Spirit, I release my demand for progress in my outer life. Build something real IN me. And help me to trust there is traction I can’t yet see.”
By the way…
About a month ago, I semi-announced I’m working a new “project”. And I am! But of course, with camp going on I have delayed for good reason. I want to do camp right — and I want to do this new, fun project right. So, stay tuned here on this newsletter in the coming weeks (months).
Would you consider forwarding this to someone in your life who would be blessed by going deeper with God’s presence?
Happy Father’s Day, my friends.
Taylor Jervis
Tyler, Texas
June 15, 2025
PS - if this was in any way valuable to you, will you:
1) reply and let me know?
2) forward it to a friend who would be encouraged?