My best days begin with nothing. I wake up, make a cup of coffee, then settle on the floor with a pillow and a journal. I resist checking email and set a timer on my phone for ten minutes. And then, with a few slow, deep breaths, I settle into silence.
Whether it’s accompanied by a quiet request to God tuned to the rhythm of breath, or soundtracked by a collision of wandering thoughts and internal monologues, those ten minutes of silence feel like a small island in a chaotic sea, maybe because they are. There’s no denying we live in a culture of noise. I relish quiet, but it’s rare to find a moment where I’m not reading something, or thinking about something, or scrolling on my phone, filling my head with something. The voices are loud and incessant, and they beg for attention every waking second. So maybe that’s why silence feels so countercultural, so sacred. Away from the noise, I can finally listen.
In one of my favorite passages from the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah experiences the gift of quiet. After a stunning display of God’s power before the prophets of Baal, Elijah is on the run. Scared, angry, and alone, he flees into the wilderness and screams toward the sky: “I have had enough! LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (1Kings 19:4). But in the night, he doesn’t hear fearful judgment; angels come to him, encouraging him to eat and rest before the next journey.
For forty days, he walks, and I can’t help but wonder if those forty days felt like forty years. I wonder if he begged for signs, if his heart pounded at the memory of the altar bursting into flame, or if the shouts of violence haunted his dreams. But then one night, in a cave, at the end of the forty days, God speaks again.
“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v.9).
Elijah lists his grievances. The Israelites have rejected their God, the king and queen are corrupt, the prophets have been killed and rejected, and the most heartbreaking complaint of all: “I alone am left” (1Kings 19:10). So, God beckons him outside for the show of his life: a cliff-shattering wind, a churning earthquake, a raging fire. But God doesn’t speak in any of them. Instead, “after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper” (v.12). God doesn’t give Elijah more work to do or tell him to stop moaning. God meets him, repeating the gentle question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v.13).
We don’t lack reasons to grieve or work to do, but what may we hear when we “come away… and rest for a while” (Mark 6:31) and “wait expectantly for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Like Elijah, we may look around and despair, feeling all alone. God invites us to practice silence, to turn down the noise so we can hear His soft whisper and turn toward Him.
I’m not entirely sure of the significance of God repeating His question to Elijah, “Elijah, what are you doing here?” But it made me wonder. Whenever God repeats something in the Bible it means He wants us to listen. Also the idea that He asked Elijah when I’m sure He already knew full well the answer, makes me think the question was more for Elijah than Himself. I think God wanted Elijah to look inward and realize his purpose instead of being distracted and discouraged by the outside world. The picture He painted for Elijah of chaos and destruction and then meeting Him in the silence I think was a more tangible way of God showing Elijah that He was still God even amidst all the evil Elijah had encountered. Sometimes we need God to show us His power in new and fresh ways that awaken us to our continued purpose.
@L V
Praying, this is so wonderful I can’t wait for all the things Gods going to do in your life and prayers he’ll answer x
@ LV Praying for your process to come to fruition. May you learn to be able to still your mind so that the small whisper of God can be heard.
I also struggle with turning off my mind if it’s not constantly being distracted by noise. I also have adhd and even turning my mind off is hard. I constantly have an audiobook or podcast on, even to go to sleep. Literally, just yesterday I finally tried sitting in silence and meditation. Tried setting my phone across the room and not being on it while I watched a tv show. ACTUALLY WATCH IT?! My day following that morning practice was so freaking great. But it’s something that seems so hard. But I’m so excited for this new journey God is letting me go on. This lesson aligned with my life in a magical way. I feel like God is calling me into a new chapter where I sit in silence and feel comfortable with that. Hopefully this carries over into social settings and I can learn to let others speak without interrupting them. A lot of things I struggle with are ADHD related. I do have a possible therapist I may see so if someone could pray for that process I’d appreciate it.
@KELLY …SO glad that God was able to use me to encourage you!! I will definitely keep you in my prayers and don’t be afraid to reach out!! Always here if you need/want someone to talk to!!
@HANNAH PENNER …Amen!!! ❤️
@SARAH D. …I can totally relate!! I am praying for wisdom, discernment, clarity and peace. God’s GOT your back!! The BEST is yet to come!!
@ ANA VALENZUELA …love the WAIT EXPECTANTLY!!!! Such an important and good reminder!! Thank you!!
@ GINNY KETELES …I also noticed this!! And think it’s important to pay attention to!! We all, at some point, are unwilling to rest and more than willing to flee, but like you said God is GRACIOUS and “He delights to show me mercy and is still a God of justice. I am blessed when I wait for him.” SO good!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Even when still I am not still…even at rest I am not at rest…distractions of everyday keep my mind wondering what if and what now…Be still and let God whisper His word…Don’t be fearful and anxious in the quiet spaces❤️
I am terrified of silence. I have always been terrified of silence. I am ADHD and honestly my thoughts never stop so noise centers me and focuses me. Now I wonder how much I have missed and how many gentle whispers I have missed because I am not willing to sit in silence. I pray that I am able to learn to sit in the silence and listen better.