Some things can only happen in silence. Other things best happen in silence.
The Bible doesn’t give a whole lot of details about the prayer life of Jesus, but the few details given are more than enough to make the case that connection to God comes not from noise or restlessness nor disturbances or anxiety or boredom, but from solitude and silence.
The Bible doesn’t give a whole lot of details about the prayer life of Jesus, but the few details given are more than enough to make the case that connection to God comes not from noise or restlessness nor disturbances or anxiety or boredom, but from solitude and silence.
Jesus prayed in lonely places (Mark 1:35). He taught the masses to find a quiet closet, shut the door, and have a conversation with God (Matthew 6:5-6). He sent the disciples ahead of him and went to the mountain to pray (Mark 6:45-46). Even in Gethsemane, he told Peter and the brothers they could go so far, but no further. At the moment Jesus needed God the most the last thing he needed was noise. He needed James and John arguing about who was greater just about as much as he needed Peter telling him that Peter would never deny Him. So Jesus took a few more steps, fell to his face, and began his private conversation with God (Mark 14:32-35).
Culture is full of noise and restlessness. Both are common, expected, and ordinary. But, noise and restlessness prevent us from experiencing God and embracing each other. iPads, iPods, iPhones, fifteen versions of ESPN, Twitter, Instagram, text messaging, busyness, consumerism, email, and eBay provide enough noise to make a jet engine sound like wind chime during a gentle breeze and enough restlessness to turn an exhausted pre-schooler into an insomniac. Being constantly connected to the noise and restlessness of the world ironically and sadly disconnects us from the abundant love of God and the genuine love of others.
We confuse busyness with significance, entertainment with joy, and vast connectedness with vital communication. Our basic human needs of genuinely knowing God and others and authentically being known by God and others are being lost in the confusion and complexity of the world.
God simply says through the Psalmist: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Unplug. Listen. Say “no” to what isn’t working. Rest. Relate. Reflect. Pray.
Prayer moves us in three directions: upward to God, inward to self, and outward toward others. It connects us to God like nothing else connects us to God. It connects us to others like nothing else connects us to others. Prayer also does something to us. Søren Kierkegaard wrote:
The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.
Turn up the silence. Listen to God. Be fully present with others. Discover and embrace your true self. Be still. Be silent.
The best is yet to come…
Craig
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