Learning to be silent

In the midst of chaos God is my refuge and calm. The last few days have found me "hiding" from the world a bit. Maybe I feel a little shell shocked, maybe I'm not ready to face reality, maybe I just needed to be invisible...whatever the reason, God has allowed me this time. Now, it seems, he is making me ready to move.
Sometimes it isn't easy to be silent. In the last weeks I have found that sometimes silence is necessary. Silence can give the mind and soul a rest. It gives the chance to hear things I might otherwise have missed. It allows God a chance to speak. It is really amazing how God is sending me the messages and encouragement I need most right now. Today he reminds me that silence is needed and is important.

The Need for Silence

It is always easier to add to the noise of the world than to be silent. Silence is a very precious thing--"There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" (Rv 8:1 AV), when the seventh seal was opened in the Book of the Revelation. Thunder and horses and martyrs and earthquakes had preceded the opening of this seal. Hail, fire, blood, and fearful judgment followed it--but in between, angels stood in the presence of God and there was utter silence.

Have we learned to stand in God's presence, mouths shut, hearts open? "Lord, what do you want me to do?" We must be quiet in order to know Him and to hear Him and to hear Him answer us.

"If any of you lack wisdom let him ask his friends." No. That is not the Word of the Lord. "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God" (Jas 1:5 AV) is his Word to us. There is a place for asking wisdom of godly friends, but let us always go first to God.

"Be still"--that is, shut up--"and know that He is God" (Ps 46:10 AV).