Silence and Solitude

I’ve always been someone who needed to stay busy—whether through activities, hobbies, or even small distractions. I felt like I had to keep myself occupied to keep the silence away. My home was rarely quiet, which helped for a while, but whenever I was alone, I found myself filling the space with noise or tasks. As a child, and even into my early adult years, I feared silence because of the thoughts it might bring. My mind was constantly racing, and negative thoughts could slip in easily and send me into a spiral.

Being pregnant with my first child has already brought many new things into my life, but the most surprising has been a newfound enjoyment of silence. After finding out my husband and I were expecting, it took a while for the reality to sink in. I went through a phase of shock where I wasn’t sure it was really happening. Then one day, while sitting outside with our dog, enjoying the weather about to roll in, I just sat there. Normally, I’m not one to sit still or do nothing, but the peace and tranquility of that moment flooded me. In the silence and solitude—aside from our pup curled up beside me—I thanked God and worshiped Him for the blessing He had given our family.

That moment changed me. From then on, I began to view silence differently. I no longer saw it as something to fear. The silence itself wasn’t the enemy; rather, the enemy had been using it against me. Jesus has transformed my understanding of silence into something to nurture and relish, not to avoid.

We can see from Jesus Himself that He used silence and solitude to care for His soul. These were sacred moments between Him and His Father. It was how He began His ministry and how He made important decisions. The Gospels give us multiple examples:

Jesus understood the importance of silence and solitude. Ruth Haley Barton once wrote, “Sometimes we don’t realize how exhausted we are until we attend a silent retreat.” Jesus knew this truth. He knew the soul’s need for peace and surrender, and He sought it in quiet moments alone with the Father.

In their book Time Away, Ben Campbell Johnson and Paul H. Lang write, “Silence is a deep stillness, a consciousness that gives focus …” This stillness can be hard to find in today’s culture. But as Jesus calls us to Himself, He calls us to surrender. There is a depth of peace within us waiting to be discovered, and it can only be found in the One who gives it. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He said, “My peace I give you …” (John 14:27).

We cannot enjoy or receive that peace when we are not in the presence of the Father. So here’s a challenge for you: Find a space that helps you embrace silence. Be bold enough to be still and listen for the Father’s voice. How is He speaking to you? Allow your senses to pay attention. And when your mind wanders, be gentle with yourself—just guide it back to the silence.

We think we are in control, but God is so much bigger than us. Let Him show you His peace and blessing through silence and solitude in Him.

Cover photo by Vladimir Fedotov on Unsplash

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