Counseling Blog | The Dunham School | Private PreK-12 | Baton Rouge, LA

Counseling Blog

September 2026

Simplifying Life:

abiding in god's provision

Several months ago, my husband and I stumbled upon a documentary about an isolated ice fishing village whose inhabitants live not only in the harshest of environmental conditions, but also have very little need for modern material possessions. The people of this village focus their energy on community, learning about life and values through the hard work of ice fishing, passed down through hundreds of years of tradition. As we watched the villagers on screen, ranging in age from toddlers to elders, I was struck by the contrast of their lives to a student with whom I had met earlier that day. She admitted to feeling inadequate next to social media influencers whom she followed, admitting her anxiety about her social standing and reputation. This documentary showcased how modern stresses can seem self-imposed when compared to the quiet contentment of a group of people whose happiness stems from community and shared purpose. When reflecting on how to view this message using our Christian Biblical worldview, it is apparent how easily we can all get caught up in the trap of crowding our homes and our hearts not just with physical belongings, but with packed calendars, high expectations, and the subtle pressure to keep up appearances.

As parents, we want to give our children every advantage. However, in chasing worldly success, earthly possessions, financial security, and perceived high social standing, we risk teaching them to rely on material abundance rather than God's daily grace. To raise children who walk faithfully with Jesus, we must intentionally model and cultivate a life centered on abiding in Christ.

The desire for more—more possessions, higher status, better accolades—is a heavy burden for families to carry. When our lives are consumed by acquiring earthly treasures, our children notice where our trust truly lies. Further, we actually increase the burden on our children’s shoulders of anxiety and worry as they attempt to find a foothold in a world that will never provide a solid foundation. However, when we release the pursuit of worldly status and possessions, we create space to experience the true peace of God's provision. Jesus addressed this heart posture directly in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." –Matthew 6:19–21

Our world tells us that self-promotion, power, and prestige lead to fulfillment. Yet Jesus demonstrated a completely different path—one defined by radical humility and posture of a servant. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:5–8 that Christ, though fully God, "made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant." He chose a life of modest circumstances, focusing entirely on obedience to the Father and love for others. Teaching our children to follow Jesus means teaching them to embrace this same posture. When we prioritize humility over reputation and service over status, we show our children that greatness in the Kingdom of God looks entirely different from greatness in the world.

Living a simplified, Christ-centered life comes with a cost. It requires us to say no to cultural norms, peer pressure, and the constant urge to consume. Jesus was clear about what following Him entails: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." –Luke 9:23 Taking up our cross daily means dying to self-interest and placing our reliance squarely on Christ’s provision. For a student, this might mean choosing content over envy when a classmate gets a new device, or choosing kindness over popularity when picking a lunch table. For parents, it means intentionally choosing quiet faithfulness over the loud pursuit of recognition or material wealth.

Here are some practical steps to cultivate simplicity at home:

• Audit Your Family's Time and Space: Look at your calendar and home environment together. Are there activities, subscriptions, or commitments that drain your family's spiritual focus rather than build it up?
• Practice Active Gratitude: Counter the culture of "more" by establishing a daily habit of thanking God for what He has already provided—focusing on food, shelter, community, and His daily grace.
• Engage in Quiet Generosity: Model for your children what it looks like to share resources quietly, without seeking praise or recognition.
• Focus on Abiding, Not Striving: Remind your children often that our job is not to produce worldly success in our own strength, but to abide in Him and allow Him to produce good fruit in our lives.
• Provide a Pulse Check: Actively monitor your children’s access to social media and influencer culture as these can produce intense anxiety and cause them to question if they have “enough.” Discuss as a family where your real contentment lies: in the grace and mercy of our Father through Christ Jesus.

As the ice fishing documentary drew to a close, my husband turned to me and suggested that life in the wilderness with none of the material things we currently have could likely lead to far less anxiety, mental struggle, or emotional turmoil. Together, we could both see how happy the members of that remote community were as they simply abided in the natural provision of God, and socially with one another as members of a group dedicated to helping one another, as opposed to competing or winning. While we may not radically shift our life circumstances by moving to a remote fishing village, we can work to simplify our lives and anchor our trust in Christ's daily provision. In doing so, we offer our children a rare gift: the freedom to rest in a Savior who has already provided everything we truly need.