Are You In A Silent Season

Silence doesn’t usually bother me. Like the pause between conversations doesn’t give me anxiety. Hearing everything in the room go quiet once people have exited the room can sometimes be calming. Even when my kids suddenly go quiet I don’t immediately freak out. But when God put me in a season of silence, I struggled! 

It was then I realized there were different levels of silence. Everything I had mentioned above was temporary silence that I could easily change. Silence in our control is not a scary thing. You can easily walk away from it, interrupt it or cancel it all together. But silence out of our control, now that is scary! Now I know you absolutely agree. It’s as if you were locked in a blank room and you have no idea where the key is nor was a clue given.

You begin to search frantically to get out but nothing helps.

In my silent season, close friends were removed and no one came to replace them. People were busy when I felt like talking and long drives to work were felt deeply. I immediately tried to fill the space with music, podcasts or the radio. If I couldn’t talk to someone I was going to listen to someone talk to me. Sitting in my thoughts was not an option. I tend to overthink and was afraid of my brain just running away from me and I end up worried, scared or crying over nothing. 

However, the silent season didn’t mean alone.

Yes, I did feel at times like I was alone but then someone would reach out checking in then they were gone. It was long enough to know that if I were to die, my body would be discovered within a week. But not long enough to fill the silence I dreaded. Then God offered my next step. I was venting to one of these in the moment friends when one suggested I sit in the silence and talk to God. Sit in the silence? But my thoughts! They would be loud! She insisted I try. I knew she was right.

God wouldn’t place you in a chair if He didn’t want to sit with you. 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Not saying the silent season is the shadow of death, however, God is with us in all situations but don’t you think He wants our attention the most in the quiet one? 

“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God said these words to Jacob when he was alone in a cave dreaming. He was in the middle of a transition. Leaving home to find a wife and was traveling on his quest. In this in between quiet moment God appeared to speak to him when it is the most quiet. Sleeping. At first I wished that could have been me. Talk to me in my dreams, God and I promise to catch everything. But as I started to sit still in the silence and fought the urge to overthink, things started to happen. 

First finding the power to control my thoughts was amazing.

I denied fear access, I told stray thoughts goodbye and I focused on God and His nearby presence. The next thing I knew we were having a conversation! Doubt I could have done that in a dream. The revelation that came to me from this first conversation had me in tears. Feeling the love of God, knowing the plans He has for us are good, opening my eyes to the truth of my life and what I needed to see was equally beautiful and priceless. My dreaded season was suddenly cherished. 

I was happy to sit and feel the silence descend so we could have another conversation. So I could begin to make plans with Him, align myself with Him. It was no longer a place feared but a place desired. It was also a place of rest. I didn’t have to carry the conversation. I was feeling assurance in my life’s journey. I couldn’t wait to share and encourage others to go sit quietly with their Heavenly Father. I hope to keep this going long after my silent season is over. To grab a hot chocolate and a blanket and sit with my Father. 

Whether you are in a quiet season or not, I hope you give it a try. Even if you were to start the conversation and wait for Him to response, there’s no wrong way to do it. It’s your time with your Dad. Get comfortable, open, honest and humble about it all. He loves it so much more than we could ever imagine. Who knew the silence could be so good!