Silencing My Soul

Silencing My Soul

Wendy Pope

I’m a talker; always have been. When report cards were sent home, my parents never expected anything better than a C beside the word “conduct.” One of my elementary teachers politely called me “very social,” but most were more blunt. “Wendy talks too much. She could learn more if she talked less.”

Unfortunately, old habits die hard. I brought this trait of talking too much into my quiet time with God, filling the silence with words—lots and lots of words. Sometimes I wonder if the Father looks at the Son and says, “I can’t get a word in edgewise with this girl! She could learn more if she talked less.”

I wanted to tell God about all the good solutions He could implement to solve my problems. To-do lists, not peace and quiet, ran through my head. I was perpetually distracted by shelves that needed dusting and piles of toys that needed to be put away. It felt unnatural not to be talking to God, so I resisted being still and quiet.

I shared my uneasiness about silence with God, but I knew that silence and stillness were things He was inviting me to. During these times, I sensed God’s gentle encouragement. Shhh. Be still. It’s okay to be silent. You don’t have to say a word.

Gradually, I settled into a habit of just being with God. It was something I felt but couldn’t initially describe until I read the psalmist’s words: “I have stilled and quieted my soul” (Psalm 131:2 NIV 1984). Rest. That was the name for what I experienced in the silence. God united His heart with mine, allowing me to experience the rest I needed.

As we fill the reservoir of our souls with true refreshment from God, we learn to relax in the rhythms of His grace. We experience real peace and rest that only come from the silence and stillness of being with Him. We carry this refreshment with us as we face the challenges of our days.

Do you have the gift of gab like me? Do you find it challenging to sit quietly with God? Ask Him to help you not only to practice but also to enjoy silence and stillness. Your soul will find refreshing peace. God’s rest is exactly what your restless soul needs.

Dear Lord, my soul is having a hard time being still. I lay down my resistance to silence, and commit to five minutes of daily silence with You for the next month. I praise You in advance for what You are going to say to me in the silence. Thank You for the rest only You can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REMEMBER

You are positioned to hear God most clearly when you are still and silent.

REFLECT

What concerns you and what intrigues you about being silent with God?

RESPOND

Commit to spending five minutes today in silence with God. Open your time of silence by praying Psalm 131:2. If you find it helpful, use a journal to briefly note observations about your time with God in silence.

POWER VERSES

Matthew 11:28–30; Ecclesiastes 3:7