Finding God in the Unexpected: Slowing Down to Experience His Presence

What if connecting with God has less to do with doing all the “right” things and more to do with becoming aware that He is already right here?Have you ever wanted to feel closer to God but struggled with the ways you've been told that connection is supposed to look? Maybe you've tried the early-morning quiet time, read the devotional, gone to church, and checked all the boxes—yet still wondered why God sometimes feels distant.Caroline Williams knows that feeling. After college, Caroline moved to Washington, D.C., to pursue what she thought was her dream career in politics. She wanted to make a difference in the world, but before long, she found herself miserable and questioning whether she'd misunderstood God's calling for her life. For two and a half years, she prayed, journaled, served, went to church, and desperately asked God to tell her what to do next. Instead, she felt what she describes as “radio silence from heaven.”But there was one unexpected place where Caroline consistently experienced God's presence: on her yoga mat. Slowing down, moving her body, breathing, and becoming present quieted the noise long enough for her to hear what her heart actually needed—not directions for her future, but the reminder that God loved her and was proud of her. Eventually, that unexpected encounter led Caroline away from politics and toward becoming a yoga instructor.Today, Caroline leads people around the world in Jesus-centered yoga practices designed to help them slow down and become aware of God's presence. She and Willow talk about why we sometimes make connecting with God too narrow, how our faith can become weighed down by a backpack full of “shoulds,” and the freedom of discovering that we can meet with God while moving, walking, creating, sitting with a cup of coffee—or simply breathing and being still.If you're tired of striving in your faith, wrestling with an unexpected change in direction, or simply longing to experience God's presence in a deeper way, this conversation will invite you to slow down, release the “shoulds,” and discover God right where you are.Meet Caroline WilliamsCaroline Williams is a yoga instructor and founder of Caroline Williams Yoga. After beginning her career in politics in Washington, D.C., Caroline followed an unexpected invitation into yoga teacher training—a decision that ultimately changed the direction of her life.She later launched her YouTube channel to make Jesus-centered yoga practices accessible to others and founded The Abbey, an online community where people can practice yoga, meditation, and contemplative spiritual practices while also equipping yoga teachers to lead Jesus-centered classes.Caroline's passion is helping people slow down, become present in their bodies, and recognize the presence of God in and around them.Key TakeawaysWhen God feels silent: Consider whether you're seeking an answer from God more than you're seeking God Himself.When your faith feels like a list of “shoulds”: Give yourself permission to discover the ways you personally connect with God—whether through movement, nature, creativity, silence, or something else.When you struggle to slow down: Start with five minutes. Put down the distractions, notice your surroundings, breathe, and become aware of God's presence.When you're always thinking about what's next: Remember that God is present here and now—and constantly living one step ahead can cause us to miss what He wants to give us today.How This Episode Will Encourage YouYou don't need a perfect quiet time, the right environment, or an elaborate spiritual routine to encounter God.Sometimes the invitation is simply to stop striving and become present.Caroline reminds us that God is already with us—in our movement and our stillness, our questions and uncertainty, our bodies and our everyday routines. Instead of carrying around a backpack full of everything you think you should be doing, you can begin noticing how God uniquely invites you to be with Him.Follow Willow: Website | Instagram | Facebook💑Check out Collide’s website for info on upcoming conferences, events, and resources.📲Follow Collide on Facebook and Instagram for encouragement, inspo and a fun peek into our ministry.📰Plus, subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Collide!