In the modern world and our day-to-day lives, silence has sadly become a rather rare luxury. We are constantly bombarded by the roar of traffic, the hum of clunky appliances, and the relentless pull of digital chatter from the devices in our pockets.
Even our own thoughts can become a noisy marketplace of anxieties, ‘to-do’ lists, and hectic schedules. When the world gets too loud, it isn’t just distracting; it can be absolutely deafening.
Sometimes when we don’t choose the silence, the silence chooses us. And this past week I’ve had a bit of a ”knock” to my health. I woke a few mornings back with a rather sizable bruise on my ankle, and I’m struggling to walk on it. How I managed to cause such a mischief remains a mystery, but the result was immediate. I was forced to stop.
As someone who rarely, if ever, misses a Sunday service since returning to my faith, being stuck at home for Palm Sunday was upsetting to say the least. St. Ed’s has become my spiritual home; the people there are family. To be absent at the start of Holy Week felt like a heavy loss. But as my physiotherapist friend told me to rest up, I quickly realised I was being given a forced ‘pit-stop’ lesson to listen.
Learning to listen to God is rarely about waiting for an almighty ‘THUNDERCLAP’ from the heavens above. It is often the intentional act of turning down the volume of our own plans so that His presence can be felt. While I’m resting and hoping to be back on my feet for my part in the Good Friday service and Easter Sunday happenings, I’m learning to trust the process.
It is an honest lesson in trusting God completely, not just with the big things, but with the frustrating, quiet days where we feel we aren’t doing enough. I know I have a tendency to overtalk (and often too much!), but in this forced stillness, I’m finding that God loves us unconditionally, whether we are busy serving or simply sitting on the sofa feeling a tad sorry for ourselves with an ice pack on our ankle.
So, how do we know when we are truly listening? When we finally hush the external noise? Or when a physical injury hushes it for us? We find that God’s voice doesn’t compete for attention. It is a steadying peace that grounds us. It is the reminder that our worth isn’t found in how many services we attend, or how much we do, but in simply being His.
To hear Him, we have to be honest with what distracts us. Even if you aren’t forced onto the bench to spectate like I’ve been doing this week, try taking a few minutes each morning for absolute silence before the day officially begins. Don’t dive straight on your phone when you wake, but instead take time to clear your mind, talk in prayer with the Lord and prep for the day ahead. Focus on your breathing during those first few minutes, and take time to pray – ”I see you, and I trust you, Lord.” Make it part of your morning routine, closely followed by a hot cup of coffee or tea!
When the world gets too loud, remember that the Creator of the Universe is not interested in shouting matches, He is waiting in the silence. All we have to do is be still enough to hear Him.
Blessings,
Frankie.
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