Did you know the average person experiences only 10 minutes a day of total silence? And many others much less than that. The world clamors for our attention via our cell phones, laptops, radios and televisions. It screams at us in traffic noise, crowded streets, and the frantic voices of impatient children. Where can we find silence? And why do we need it?
It is crucial that women today find time in their lives for silence and thought. I recently heard a speaker say, “It is in the silence that we hear the voice of God.” (Shauna Niequist, She Speaks 2016) This is so true. In fact, without hearing from God, how can one effectively navigate the Christian life at all?
As women, we need God’s wisdom and guidance–wisdom to raise the little beings under our care into confident Christ-followers, and guidance, on how to best love and support our husbands. And, as daughters of the King, we often need comfort in the private places of our hearts–comfort that only our heavenly Father can provide.
Every woman craves time alone. Time to retreat inside her head where only her thoughts reside.
If you are in the young mommy years then you no doubt find it a challenge to find that silence.
Why not take full advantage of sitting in the car line? Take your Bible with you in the car. Read His Word. Talk to Him. Hear from Him. (Of course, this only works if you don’t have an additional child or two fussing in the back seat!)
How about using the time when your little ones are napping to go into your prayer closet (which may, indeed, be your actual closet) and converse with God rather than using that time to clean up the kitchen, fold laundry and mop. You can have the little ones help you with all that later.
Or, lock the door and take a bath. I have experienced lots of quiet reflection and powerful prayer time in the midst of a relaxing soak in a hot bubble bath.
If you have not done so, it is important to let your husband know that you hope to carve out more quiet time alone. He can help by taking the kids outside to play… or for a walk or an ice cream run. Hopefully he’ll commit to doing this a few times a week!
The good news is that as your kids grow and become more independent, it is much easier to find quiet time for reflection and prayer. In fact, this has been one of the joys of the current phase of life in which I find myself. ( one son married, one in college and one daughter, a driving teenager…yay for the DMV! )
I relish my quiet time. It restores and revives me. It settles me. It brings me closer to God.
My prayer for you is that you will carve out time to sit in the silence and reflect on God’s presence and power in your life; to pour out your hopes, dreams, fears and struggles to Him; to give Him thanks and praise for who he is–
To hear from God.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:6 (NKJV)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:5-6 (NKJV)
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
