SILENCE

We currently live in an age where there is constant activity, be it the notification from our phones, or the never-ending traffic along the roads surrounding us. Silence seems to be a luxury in today’s world, as we currently live in an age where there seems to be constant buzz and activity.

Silence can mean different things when put into different contexts. It can mean focusing on something, respecting something, or even ignoring something.

Silence is the absence of noise, and by extension, the absence of distractions. Thus, it is where and when we can truly focus on what we want. This is especially important during prayer, where we are actually communicating with God. This is also something that Jesus practised, as seen in Mark 1:35, where Jesus woke up early to find a place alone, to pray. Jesus prayed alone, and He made an effort to make the environment conducive for Him to pray - alone and most likely in silence, so that He could focus on His prayer.

When we remain silent, I feel that I can hear my own thoughts better and in the process understand more of myself. It feels that the distractions of the world around me are being blocked off. The type of silence that I think we need is not just physical silence, but also inner silence and the ability to focus on what really matters. Only with true silence can we truly realise and find out what is the most important thing to us, or the root cause of problems that have been bothering us from within. I believe if we manage to find a time when we can truly keep still and not be distracted by other things, we will eventually be able to reflect and find what truly matters to us, and what truly has been bothering us. Many times, I think we, myself included, are too used to lying to ourselves, and distracting ourselves from what is the true issue at hand. With no time to really wind down and calm down from the noise and distractions around us, we just keep trying to resolve the unimportant issues, hoping that by doing so, we can obtain inner peace. However, I realise I end up being even more confused.

To me, weekend nights are one of the rare times of true silence when I can be more focused on what I want to be mindful about. It is the period where I do not receive so many messages on my phone. The other situation where I realise it feels really silent is when I wear a pair of noise cancelling earphones and close my eyes. For that short period, it feels like I can hear the thoughts inside me more clearly. For now, I am still not used to being in silence for long as it feels scary for some reason that I cannot pinpoint, but from the short period of silence I have occasionally, I can see the benefits it brings to me.

Silence can also mean respect. Giving someone the silent treatment is usually taken with a negative connotation, as it shows that you are angry and not satisfied with someone. You are intentionally refusing to engage with the other party, so that the other party is aware that you are ignoring them.

However, with God, it is expected to give Him the “silent treatment”, as it is the only response fit for Him. As we read from Habakkuk 2:20, “Let all the earth keep silence before Him”, we should keep silent in front of God. This is because He is so great that words seem to be unable to express what He is. This is also seen in Luke 9:36 and 1 Kings 19:11-12. It may sound counter-intuitive, but God shows His presence when it is silent.

Does anyone feel that God feels the closest to them when they are in silence? It kind of feels surreal as you draw closer to Him when it is the most silent.

However, silence can also sometimes mean apathy. For instance, when we pray for certain things, and we do not get a response that we desired, or we do not even get any response, we do get frustrated at the “silent treatment” we get from God. Sometimes, this is the thing that causes us the most pain, because in the midst of our suffering, He seems to be silent. However, we need to know that it is not that He does not answer, but that the correct time may not have arrived.

We also need to be mindful that we do not literally give God the “silent treatment”. God speaks to us regularly through the Bible and even the sermons, but if we choose to remain silent and not act on it, are we then not giving God the “silent treatment”? Verses like James 2:14-17 emphasise the importance of real actions coming together with faith, and not merely just having no action. This is also something that I lack and will need to continually work on.

A period of true silence feels rare in today’s world, but yet it is also the type of environment that I think we should try to be in when we are talking to God or when we are worshipping God. It is something that we should try to rediscover and can use, to draw ourselves closer to Him.

Ask Yourself:

1. What does the author think silence can mean?

2. What can we learn about the conditions that we can pray in?

3. When is your “golden” period of silence?

Suggested Answers:

1. It can mean focusing on something, respecting something, or even ignoring something.

2. It can be done in the morning and in solitude (which can mean in silence).

3. This is based on the individual.