In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)
Have you ever heard snow fall?
As a young boy growing up on a farm in northwestern Washington state, I remember the harsh winter weather quite vividly. During the spring and summer months, it rained quite often. Then, in the winter months, that same precipitation brought significant snowfall.
I would stand in front of the large front room window watching the beautiful, large, fluffy snowflakes drift through the air. Unlike the “snow storms” in the Southeast, it usually accumulated quickly and deeply. I couldn’t wait to play in it.
Being a persistent kid, I would stay outdoors as long as I could. Before too long, my clothes were soaked and my mittens were frozen gauntlets. My hands would get so cold, my mother would run warm water over them to help them thaw. That painful, tingling sensation as feeling returned to my poor fingers reminded me of all the day’s “fun.”
On one snowy day, I remember walking out into the pasture and sitting on a tree stump. There was no wind, no traffic, no one else around. The deafening quietness roared in my ears. It was so peaceful actually hear the snow falling. It was a gentle, velvety, muffled pitter-patter as each flake completed its heavenly flight and softly kissed the earth.
Hearing God
Now contrast that with the noise and busyness of today’s life. We live in a very noisy society with very little real quiet time to ourselves. Yet, many references in Scripture encourage us to be still and know God is in control, to walk beside still waters, to step aside for a while to rest.
To be quiet is to enable hearing God. He doesn’t yell, He whispers. He whispered to Samuel in the middle of the night. He came to Elijah in a still small voice. Quite often we find His interactions are in quiet settings with those who are listening and expecting to hear from Him.
Whether in the quiet morning hours or as you settle in for the evening, spend some quiet time alone with God. With no children, no television, no smart phone or Internet – just you alone with God and His Word in silent expectation to hear His unique whisper for you. You’ll be amazed at what you finally hear. Maybe even snow falling.
