What kind of relationship do you have with silence? Do you flourish in it, or are you someone who dreads it? Do you feel uncomfortable without the constant buzz of a show, music, or a podcast in the background even if you’re not really listening? Perhaps the dread of silence comes from family, friends, or significant others who have used it in a punitive way. Or maybe, the discomfort from silence could be a reminder of experiences with loneliness and anxiety. It could be a reminder of our past failures and what might feel like God’s felt absence, leading to confusion about our faith. In short, silence is a reminder of our fears and insecurities.
Many believers today may have unknowingly developed a poor worldview as a consequence of their fears and insecurities. Instead of taking time to practice reflection and contemplation in silence, some might be quick to drown themselves in the busyness of life.
Our proclivities for distractions coupled with our distaste for silence tend to create some level of difficulty to discern God’s presence and voice. But could it be that silence provides us an opportunity to tap into moments that clarify what God is saying to us?
Silence is a Means of Grace and a Gift From God
Regardless of where one lands within the theological spectrum, believers can generally agree that God uses many different spiritual disciplines to help us grow in our faith. One of the key practices often taught in church settings is the necessity for one to be immersed in the Scripture. How believers meditate on God’s Word and pray is what Puritans would classify as part of a Means of Grace.
In short, Means of Grace are ways in which believers can receive God’s blessings as we participate in the overall process of sanctification. Means of Grace is readily available for all believers to participate in the work of the Holy Spirit. Reframing silence as part of a Means of Grace can help us re-orient ourselves to receive it as a gift, instead of a punishment.
Despite one’s experiences with silence, silence IS a virtue because it is a gift from God. Like other spiritual practices, silence is intended to help believers draw closer to God’s presence. Theologian Joanne Jung often describes Silence (and Solitude) as this:
“The stillness of time and place where you are alert to the rumblings of the soul and the impressions of God where you find a deep willingness to stay and return.” 1
Silence is a gift because it is an invitation to be with God. It is an invitation for believers to slow down from the busyness of life. It is an invitation for one to shift from a self-centered worldview to a Christ-centered worldview. It is also an invitation for believers to put their faith and trust in God. Why? Because silence is ultimately an invitation for believers to trust God through how we reflect, contemplate, and pray.
Silence Ought to Be Practiced Regularly
Living in a fast-paced culture presents a series of challenges for people to slow down and be contemplative. The reasons to be preoccupied are seemingly endless, which makes it seem near impossible to find ways to slow down and practice silence. Yet our busyness, God desires for us to be in His presence. So what can be said about practicing silence, even when it seems as if there is no time?
The goal for believers ought to be quality first, not quantity. That is, we ought to designate intentional times throughout our days or weeks to sit still in the presence of God, despite the work that we have to do. Over time, quantity can be developed as a fruit of quality time with God. Jesus illustrates this for us in two different Gospel accounts.
In Mark 1, Jesus called his disciples, drove out impure spirits, healed the sick, and then retreated into a moment of silence and solitude so that he could spend time praying alone (Mk 1:35-39). Even though this was in the early morning, Jesus practiced silence and solitude as a way to prepare himself to continue preaching and proclaiming the Gospel.
Luke 5 also tells a slightly contrasting story, where instead of starting the day like he did in Mark’s account, Jesus ended a busy day by practicing silence, solitude, and prayer. Furthermore, Luke indicates that Jesus would do this often (Luke 5:16).
Christ committed himself to slow down so that he would not be swept away by the fast-paced distractions of the day. He often did this by focusing his complete attention on the Father. These stories of Christ illustrate how believers today can find ways to slow down and retreat for the sole purpose of being in God’s presence. Whether we opt for the morning or find time in the evening could be a matter of preference. The significance is in how believers carve out time to be alone with God.
The manner in which Jesus encourages the practice of Silence is often paired with other spiritual disciplines – namely solitude, and prayer. Carving out time for silence could be a way for struggling Christians to develop normal prayer rhythms to better recognize God’s voice and be completely transparent with Him. Theologians Kyle Strobel and John Coe state:
“Prayer is not a place to be good, it is a place to be honest. Prayer is not a place to perform, it is a place to be present. Prayer is not a place to be right, it is a place to be known. Prayer is not a place to prove your worth, it is a place to receive worth and offer yourself in truth.”
The aforementioned Means of Grace function with the intent of revealing one’s mind and heart as we draw closer to the Lord.The sound of silence can be comforting as we engage in regular rhythms to be immersed in God’s presence.
Part 2 of this article will discuss practical ways we can approach incorporating the practice of silence in our lives.
Photo Credit: Marc Grove