Being silent was a hard lesson for a middle child like me to learn; silence
was the last thing on my mind. I was more like “hey, over here” and “listen to
me”; it was a overwhelming outspoken itch I had to scratch. That fear of not
being heard can breed hasty attention seeking behavior. As I matured that deep desire for a voice quickly
seem to snowball from precocious into self-centered.
Like most adults, I learned if I did not harness this awful impulsion
life would do it for me. Smack! Just like that life comes along and you are at
a loss. A loss of time, energy, or words; all you have is silence. In those undesirable
moments of quiet God creates a space for us to hear Him. We find ourselves asking
questions, like “why” and “how come?” Through prayer I found peace and courage
in my silence. God unveils our truest selves
when we seek Him, not a voice of self-doubt and angst, but self-discipline and endurance.
Have you ever felt like you had more questions than answers? When was the
last time you quieted yourself to listen to God?