As I get older, I notice my sleep patterns are starting to change. Instead of sleeping like a baby, small noises in the night now wake me up. A barking dog in the neighbor’s yard or my phone alters beeping cause me to stir from my slumber. Once I am awake, I find it hard to get back to dreamland. I received a pair of earplugs on one of our overseas flights so I thought I would try them at home to see if they helped. I scrunched them up and inserted them into my ears. At first, I did not notice a difference until they started to expand within my ears. Slowly, the noises of the night faded away, and I drifted off to sleep. I savored the sound drifting away into nothingness. I use the earplugs more often now, and I look forward to the physical sensation of everything becoming quiet as I know sleep will soon follow.
Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”
Some days, I wish I could wear my earplugs all day long. I would love to silence the unwanted noises of my life. Quiet the screaming news headlines declaring this opinion is better than that opinion. Tune out the negative thoughts that roam around in my head when I screw up. Plug up the traffic noises, honking horns and blaring sirens. When the sounds become too much for me, I use nature to escape into a quieter zone. Listening to nothing but natural noises gives me the same effect as my earplugs.
1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”
[bctt tweet=”Jesus does not want to scream and shout above all the others clamoring to get our attention.”]
When the noise ceases, and the calm settles around me either in nature or when wearing my earplugs I notice another benefit. I can listen better. I can focus my ears to pick up the things I want to hear when I drowned out the unwanted noises. My quiet times let me hear God more clearly also. The volume of society prevents us from noticing the still, small voice of God. Jesus does not want to scream and shout above all the others clamoring to get our attention. God does not want to compete against the cries of the world that scream in our ears. We hear and find Jesus in the quietness of our souls. God is in the whispers that are only perceived when we tune out all other sounds.
[bctt tweet=”God does not want to compete against the cries of the world that scream in our ears.”]
Psalm 107:29 “He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.”
God works in the whispers, not in the chaotic shouts. Find time today, and every day, to shut out the noises that bombard us daily and seek out the hints of God found in the silence. God can calm the storms with a whisper, including those raging within you. Seek Him today.
Blessings,
Yvonne – #blogger, #speaker, and #author
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Amen and thanks for commenting
I find that if I calm myself and sit in peace and quiet, I can listen and hear for God’s message much more clearly.
Me too. Thanks for adding your thoughts.
I absolutely love this. How often I’ve read Romans, and never really looked at that quote!
I am always amazed how God can show us a verse we have missed before just when we need it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
I was just saying today how God is not a God of chaos. I love that echoed here in how God is a God of peace and will not shout at us or add to the noise of this life!
Thanks for the comment
Good word, Yvonne. I struggle with insomnia too. But now I’ve gotten used to a noise maker, rain or a bubbling brook since my husband snores and it’s a more constant pleasing sound. Yes, the world is noisy and so much competes for our attention. Love this line, “Jesus does not want to scream and shout above all the others clamoring to get our attention.”
My husband snores too and that adds to the issue, lol. Aww to be able to sleep like a baby again. Thanks for commenting
Oh yes! I find my car sometimes the place to shut out the noise and quiet my mind. And love my early morning quiet.
I’ve never thought of that verse in this way: that Jesus doesn’t want to scream above the noises in our lives. What a wonderful thing to meditate on. We need that quiet time more than we realize. Thank you.
It just jumped off the page at me one day. Thanks for commenting
I’m a lover of silence and solitude. This is one reason why I love the early mornings so much. My house is complete quiet. I love your statement, “Jesus does not want to scream and shout above all the others clamoring to get our attention.” He sure doesn’t. He wants us to get away and be still, then He reveals Himself to us. It so important to make this time of quiet a regular occurrence in our weekly lives. Thank you for the reminder! 🙂 (I think I’m going to try ear plugs at night, too!)
So very true Marcie. Thanks for commenting
I love to find moments of silence amongst the chaos to hear God’s still, small voice. I’ve been out of town recently, and even when I’m home alone, I enjoy putting the phone down, keeping the TVs off and living in silence.
It is so refreshing to be surrounded by the silence. Thanks Brittany
I love this! It’s hard to focus on God’s voice which is so subtle. It’s like trying to hear a cricket in a windstorm. I’m so terrible at stopping the distractions and focusing on God’s voice. There are tweets to make, blogs to read, work to do, on and on. Great reminder. Thanks!
My to-do list can be very loud some days too. Thanks for commenting
Dear Yvonne!
Luckily God has equipped me with the gift of sleeping as a stone whenever and wherever I want 🙂
I agree with you, God works in the whispers.
Blessings!
Edna Davidsen