Finding the silence to hear God

Silence and quiet are necessary ingredients for spiritual growth. The voice of God is best heard when you're truly listening to Him and not dividing your attention with anything trivial.

Problem is, that's easier said than done.

Most of us live in a constant din of noise and information. Family life is more hectic and complicated than it's ever been before. The expectations placed on the modern family require a kind of hyperactive hustle and bustle, shuttling kids between youth groups, sports, dance or music practice, and more. On top of that, the line between work and home has never been blurrier. With email communication, remote work, and "quick check in” texts, its getting harder and harder to even fully "leave” the job. And of course, then there is the increasingly deafening background static of social media feeds and 24 hour news cycles we all live in now. 

Is it any wonder it feels impossible to slow down and breathe? 

Our world isn't geared for silence and calm. It's geared for motion and activity. That means we can't just wait around and hope for a quite time or space where we can concentrate on our spiritual walk with the Lord. We need to make an effort to find that peace and quiet.

Next time you have a moment to yourself, don't reach for the TV remote, the MP3 player, or your phone. We've been conditioned to expect a constant stream of input and background noise in our lives, but sometimes the best thing to do is simply unplug and spend some time alone with your thoughts.

Take a moment to just listen to the sounds around you. Listen to the rhythm of your breathing, feel your pulse beat and be aware of your own presence. Listen for what is around you, the sounds in the distance that are usually drowned out, the quiet rustle of the leaves, birds and insects living their small lives, other people, families, motorists, and neighbours going about their business. Concentrate on your place in the world and the miracle of creation around you. 

Sometimes, it's impossible to find a quiet moment at home or at work. With busy active families and hectic work environments, peace and quiet just isn't on the menu. That's okay, it just means you might need to go a little out of your way to find some silence.

It's a bit of a cliché, but try taking a walk. Moving on your own, away from glowing screens and chatter, can help you find a bit of peace in the middle of an otherwise chaotic day.

This is something you can just make part of your routine, take a walk during your lunch break, or after dinner. You don't need to find some picturesque hiking trail or amazing lakeside path out in the middle of nowhere to enjoy some soothing, restorative solitude. Just walking around the block in your neighborhood can be a nice way to unwind and decompress, to clean out some of the metal debris and detritus that builds up over the average day. 

When you do find some quiet, make the most of it. Instead of dwelling on your thoughts, going over what needs to be done for the day, whatever else, concentrate on what God is saying to you. Contemplate His lessons, the beauty He has made for us, what He wants for you in your life.

Not all noise comes from outside sources. As humans, we have plenty of distractions bouncing around in our own heads. It can take a bit of effort to turn off the facet of ideas, worries, and anxieties your mind leaves running at all times, but its worth it.

Make the silence you need in your life to hear what God is saying to you.