The Strength in Silence

The piercing sound of the cell phone alarm rings, and another day filled with various types of noise ensues. The dripping sound of the coffee pot, dogs barking in the background, fire engines blurring down the street… Endless groups of people begin carrying with them words with sounds. Talking.

Informational noises also clamor for our attention – the sounds of news anchors and headlines scrolling blurrily across the television screen, notifications on Facebook and Instagram, the constant ping of the computer alerting you to an email you would rather ignore.

All these noises compete for our attention. They are layered on top of the internal noises in our heads, filled with rumination, voices of worry and anxiety. These internal noises often sound the loudest.

Does the noise ever stop?

Whatever your faith, there are stories in the Bible about a great leader called Jesus. People always demanded His attention, especially when He was performing miracles and coming to their rescue. During most of His journey from town to town, Jesus was accompanied by His 12 disciples who He loved dearly. But even they frequently sought His approval and requested answers to questions they constantly posed.

Amidst all the amazing lessons taught by Jesus using parables, His actions as a leader spoke even louder and resonated even more. Following his teachings to countless crowds, Jesus often intentionally removed Himself by retreating alone to a quiet place to pray.

When the storms were literally and figuratively rising, Jesus slept because He knew His rest was critically important for the next day. When others demanded His attention, He made time to seek solace alone. He knew how to silence the noise and draw strength from seasons of solitude. Jesus knew you can't pour from an empty cup, and He used times of solitude to refill, renew and restore.

According to one news source, "The former CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, estimates that the amount of information we're creating is equal to that from the beginning of civilization to 2003."

In the middle of so much information overload and the resulting "noise," it's easy to forget to take time to rest in silence in order to rejuvenate and recover. So why not take a lesson from one of the most profound leaders that ever lived? Seek silence. Listen for clarity and the resilience found in removing yourself from the noise. It is bound to bring clarity and strength.