Do You Allow Silence to Restore You?
Some days I just want to get away all by myself. My fantasy getaway is either a cute cabin with a scenic view of beautiful trees and a lake, or a simple cottage on a beach where I can watch crashing waves and stunning sunsets.
Although it’s nice to dream, these scenarios are unlikely to become reality anytime soon. Yet some sort of solitude and silence is necessary for me every day. As an introvert, I sometimes crave solitude and silence. I need it to restore and rejuvenate myself. While I can hear my fellow introverts cheering in agreement, a need for a restoring time of solitude isn’t limited to us introverts alone. Everyone needs time to think, pray, and just be.
Currently, I steal away a bit of quiet time on the patio at my house. My backyard is not quite as scenic as my dream getaways, but it provides a break from the noise that can clutter up my life. Just like clutter may cover up our countertops, noise can clutter up our lives. On occasion we need to assess and toss out physical clutter; we also need to do this with noise clutter.
Since we can’t run off and become hermits—as much as some of our introvert selves might like that—noise is a part of our lives. If we want to really live our lives, noise is unavoidable.
Being connected to people and news 24/7 has great benefits, but it has some severe detriments as well. When we’re constantly connected, our brains are constantly processing. We take in so much information and noise that our brains are overwhelmed. We may pride ourselves on being able to (or thinking we can) multi-task, but it’s not good for us. Studies show that taking a break from noise helps relieve stress and restore cognitive function. When we don’t seek some silence and disconnect for at least a little while, our brains become overtaxed, and we become physically and emotionally exhausted.
The Bible references times when Jesus went off by himself, away from the crowds and even away from his disciples, to connect with his Father and pray. (See Luke 5:16, Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12, and Matthew 26:36.) Jesus was God in the flesh, and if he needed time alone to refill, I’m sure we need some quiet, alone time as well.
Many people focus on their “quiet time” as their time to start their day, in the peace and quiet of the early morning with the Lord. This is a great way to start the day. Putting the Lord first helps give us with the heavenly perspective we need to tackle our tasks. However, that shouldn’t be our only quiet time. Allowing our day to be filled with all noise and no quiet doesn’t make for a great day; connecting with the Lord only one time leaves a void.
It seems almost everyone has jam-packed schedules with many responsibilities and multiple commitments. Have you ever reached late afternoon already given out, but with many more commitments before bedtime? Think back on days like that. Did noise rule them? Did you have any moments of meaningful silence? Sometimes we need to come to a full stop, even if it’s for only five minutes.
These little pockets of silence and reflection and reconnecting with the Lord make such a restorative difference in our days, and all those restorative days add up to a restored life, connected with the Lord through both the big and small.
Think about days when you’re searching for an answer or guidance from the Lord. When we’re anxious to hear the Lord’s voice, are we still and listening, or are we guilty of crowding our days with noise that deafens us to his answer?
Jesus is our ultimate example: “After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray” (Matthew 14:23 CSB). We need to take some time to ourselves to pray, listen, and just be still. When it all seems too much, take a time out and seek the One who will always be there.
Scripture tells us, “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth’” (Psalm 46:10 NIV) and “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14 NIV).
is a writer, blogger, and middle school teacher. She and her husband live in Georgia with their three children. In addition to teaching and writing, Dana loves to read, paddle board, and sometimes run. She blogs about faith, family, and enjoying the everyday life at danaherndon.com.
Photograph © Kari Shea, used with permission
