Just Be Quiet

There is too much noise.
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Have you ever had days or even weeks like that?
My brain won’t be quiet amidst the whirlwind of life going on around me.
I am a thinker. I love to think on God’s word. I love to think about life lessons He has for me. I love to voice my thoughts to God as I pray.
I love moments of quiet with Jesus.


What if life isn’t quiet though?
Morning until evening. Constant.
No time to gather your thoughts or be still with God.


I tend to assume that my blog suffers at times like these. I fret. I can’t seem to focus on what I should write about because I can’t seem to gather just a few moments to think, and when an opportunity presents itself, my brain strays and I end up focusing on everything else that’s going on in my life at the time. I find myself wishing for a miracle. I find myself begging God in the late hours of the night to give me a message of hope, but often I strive in my own strength.
Trying to think. Trying to push past the noise.


The noise hasn’t all been bad. There has been beautiful noise. The laughter of grandchildren. Wedding songs and vows made. The fellowship of extended family. Ladies discussing the study of God’s word. Church services and beautiful old hymns being sung.


But then there has been the noise of other things. Things that push past quiet moments and steal away my thoughts toward God. The noise of traffic as we travel. The noise of packing and unpacking and packing again. The noise of responsibility and to do lists screaming at us to get finished before the noise of hospital stays next week. The noise of worry over my husband’s upcoming surgery. The noise of wondering and what ifs.


And I just want to stop.
I yearn for the quiet. I yearn for God.
But my brain doesn’t want to be quiet.


This morning I stole a few moments from my day. I turned on my Bible app and I sat and made myself listen to God’s words. I quietly asked Him to speak to me. To speak past the noise. To speak past the whirlwind in my brain.


He never fails.


Today He showed me the simple passage of the blind man in Mark 8. Jesus took him away from all the noise. Away from the city, (v. 23) and then He touched him.
It didn’t happen right away~
that miracle God had just for him.
Jesus asked him a simple question.
“Do you see anything?” (v. 23)
But things were still blurry to the man. So Jesus touched him again, and that’s when the miracle happened.
The man could see.


In that moment as I read, I knew that I needed to stop talking AT Jesus. I knew I needed to stop asking Him for something to write. Stop begging Him for a message of hope that might help others. I needed my brain to get away from it all and allow Jesus to speak to me. I didn’t need just the right words to share with the world, (Mark 8:26) I needed His words to see things clearer. I didn’t need a message of hope to write for my blog, I needed a message of hope FOR MY OWN HEART.
In that moment, I heard His message.
Do you see? Do you see me? I am here.


It was blurry at first. Like the blind man, the noise still seemed larger than life to me. Like looming trees. (Mark 8:24)
I read that passage and then read it again.
And then the miracle happened.
I could see. So clearly.
I didn’t need the quiet.
I was the one who needed to be quiet.
I needed to look at Jesus and listen to Him.


It never ceases to amaze me that I can read scripture countless times and miss a tiny morsel of knowledge that God has for me and then suddenly He touches me with His words and miracles happen. My eyes are opened and I see exactly what I need at the exact moment I need it.


The blind man didn’t question God and ask why he couldn’t see after the first attempt, Jesus questioned the blind man. Sometimes we just need to be quiet, stop striving and just listen to God and apply His words to our souls so that are eyes are opened to His truths.


Maybe some of you might feel like your life is out of control right now. The noise is deafening and your heart is crying out, but you just can’t seem to focus on God. Let me encourage you today.
Stop trying. Get away from it all, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Then, stop talking AT Jesus and allow Him to speak to you. Get yourself a bible app and listen to His miraculous words.


Your chaos. Your busy. Your overwhelm and your noise will all be silenced in awe of Him and you will feel His peace wash over you.


What do you see?
Imagine opening your eyes amidst the chaos that looms over your soul. Imagine opening your eyes and seeing Jesus there. Smiling back at you.
That’s the miracle that can happen if you just stop to listen.