Being Silent with Jesus - The Crosswalk Devotional - August 11
Being Silent with Jesus
By Kyle Norman
Bible Reading:
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray.” - Luke 5:16
There is a popular television show that my family enjoys watching. It is titled “Alone.” The premise is simple. Several survivalists and outdoorsy types are dropped off in the middle of the wilderness, alone. With no resources beyond what is on their backs, they must build a shelter, establish a supply of food, and get ready for the upcoming winter. There is no camera crew or support staff, they record their own journey. The one who lasts longest wins a pile of money.
What I find fascinating about this program is the emotional and spiritual journey that each contestant goes on. The utter silence of their surroundings eventually moves inward, and many begin to wrestle with issues such as identity, purpose, or value. Many people end up leaving early, on their own volition, concluding that deep satisfaction in their lives can’t be found in prize money or competition wins.
The bible talks a lot about silence. Elijah stands at the mouth of Horeb and hears the Lord in the sound of silence (1Kings 19:12) the Psalmist calls God’s people to be silent before him (Psalm 62); Jesus invited the weary disciples to “come away to lonely place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). Silence is a way to quiet the clamour of the frenetic world so that we can inwardly turn to that which is most important, most life giving. In silence, we meet the presence of the Lord who surrounds us each day, but for whom the frenzy of the world too often distracts us.
Cultivating this silent fellowship with the Lord is vitally important for a healthy spiritual life. Even Jesus himself cultivated this practice. Scripture tells us that Jesus would often withdraw to lonely places to pray. He did this frequently, often to the dismay of the disciples who were too concerned with what might be next on the agenda. Jesus, however, was never driven by the list of tasks or demands before him; he followed not societal pressures of fame or prestige; Jesus walked with the heavenly Father, and he walked with the Spirit. And even though he was God incarnate, he still needed to step away from the noise of the world to listen to the voice of the Father, and to breathe in the Spirit deeply.
If this is something that Jesus felt the need to do for his human life, shouldn’t this be something that we cultivate as well? When was the last time that you cultivated a time of silent communion with the Lord? When was the last time that you turned off all the electronic devices in your midst, stepped away from the computer or television, and simply sat with Jesus?
Ultimately, silence is more an internal quality than an outward reality. It is defined by what we are invited into, what we receive from the Lord, not about what we abstain from. Turning off the television, putting down the phone, and sitting in the absence of noise isn’t enough. We must actively open ourselves to the presence of Jesus in our midst. We seek him more than anything else. See, the purpose of silence is not to get anything out of the Lord; we seek not the answers to our questions, although that may come. We do not seek a particular mystical experience, although we may find ourselves enwrapped in one. The direction of our heart and our soul is simply to be with the one who is the lover of our soul, and our heart’s delight. Silence is about being with Jesus.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Exterior silence is rare today. Noise occurs all around us. Music is played in elevators and waiting rooms. We hear it in the background of malls and restaurants. Television and radio are playing from the moment we wake to the second before we sleep. And in those moments when we do approach silence, too often we reach for earbuds or cellphones to fill up the space with noise.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We can follow the example of our Lord, take up his invitation, and lean into a time of silence. What is more, it really is not that difficult. All it takes is the willing desire to turn to Jesus instead of other things. Instead of reaching for our phone the first moment we awake, we might allow ourselves to sit with Jesus over our morning coffee. No newspaper, no morning program, just the Lord. Or we might do as Jesus did and physically walk away from that which was distracting. Might we take some time this weekend to get away from others, so that we might be with the Lord in a deeper way?
Cultivating silence doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does have to be intentional. And while it may be uncomfortable at first, if we stick with it, it will transform our lives.
Further Reading:
Luke 10:38-42
Psalm 62
How to Seek God in Silence and Solitude
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat
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