Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that we need definite times of silence, “silence under the Word and silence that comes out from the Word.”1
We live in a society that is growing increasingly uncomfortable with silence.
The thought of living without talking or having someone to talk to is daunting. We’ve come to find a kind of comfort in the chaos of constant communication and conversation. We are unable to sit with ourselves let alone in front of a Holy God.
Silence is a crucial component of spiritual formation. It is an acknowledgment of the holiness of God through our posture of humility before God. What exactly is “silence”? I think silence is nothing more than stillness. It is a stillness that is wholistic. It is a stillness of tongue, yes. But it is not simply that. It is.
A stillness of heart.
A stillness of mind.
A stillness of emotion.
It is a stillness that is cultivated through the active discipline of the entire human body.
We need this stillness. But this kind of quiet doesn't come without practice. It will not be found without persistence. It is utterly impossible without submission and reliance on the Holy Spirit. It is a stillness that is fought for, and when we experience it the reward is tremendous.
My friend Josh says it this way, “Rest is War.” He designed a beautiful image that I keep as a screen saver that illustrates this so well:
[Follow Josh on Instagram for more amazing artwork and theological thoughts]
It is in silence that we will hear God. The chaotic circumstances of our human situation for just a moment fade into the background and God’s wisdom, kindness, compassion, and gentleness make it’s way to the foreground. You see, God’s Word speaks to us in the moment that we hear or read it. But, God’s Word is still speaking to us in the silent moments after we’ve read or heard the Word. Our quickness to respond and react to the Word may in fact be like abruptly interrupting someone we love mid-conversation. Just because we thought they were done talking doesn’t mean that they were done.
We have to wait.
We have to sit patiently.
We have to hold our tongue and allow some silence to fill the space between conversations to know when it is appropriate to speak.
It is in this space after we read and hear God’s Word, that He is still speaking to our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is taking the seeds of the Word that were planted in our hearts and watering them, securing them, and positioning them to take root and grow in our lives.
Some of us may wonder how we can even start this process of silence. There is really good news, the nature of our human existence has created a practice that is so natural that we do it almost without thinking every night and every morning.
We go to bed at night in silence. Why? Because God should always get the last word.
We wake up in the morning in silence. Why? Because God should always have the first word.
Maybe the first place to start this practice and pursue it is in the natural places it is already occurring. Be intentional when you lay your head down tonight to sleep to lay down in silence before God. When you wake up in the morning make it a pre-commitment to take the first 5 minutes to pause in silence before the Creator who sustains a new day for all of creation.
Disciplines for the inner life, Pg. 75 via Life Together from Bonhoeffer)
So good! After dealing with a traumatic life event, I decided to move to a cabin in the woods, hundreds of miles from friends and family (with spotty cell service and a weak internet connection 😅). There has been a lot of silence. But I’ve heard the Holy Spirit the loudest I ever have my entire life. I don’t intend to stay here much longer but the spiritual practices that I’ve been able to cultivate I hope to carry with me to the next chapter of my life 🙏.
Something I definitely need to work on and apply in my life. Thanks,
Josh!