Solitude and Silence

March 25th, 2020
by Bill Williamson

“Be STILL and know that I am God.” Psalm 46.10

Before we were all put on lockdown and shut down to control the spread of the Coronavirus, I had been rediscovering the discipline of solitude and silence. It’s not that easy to practice. I am grateful to the teaching and writing of Ruth Haley Barton. I want to invite you into a time of solitude and silence as well. It takes time, practice and intentionality. Even Jesus had to find times to get away from the busyness of life and ministry. The need, the hunger, the longing for solitude and silence can often come after very productive and successful times – just read the story of Elijah in I Kings 18 and 19. Sometimes the craving to be alone and with God comes in a time of great distress, where we need to hear the voice of God. It’s that still small voice that Elijah heard – the voice that reminds us that God is with us.

Sometimes, there are events and circumstance beyond our control, much like we are experiencing today, that God will use to make us “lie down in green pastures” and lead us “beside still waters” in order to restore our soul.

Times of solitude and silence are gifts from God that we need to take advantage of, for there is amazing transformation that can take place. In times of solitude and silence we God can and will:

strengthen and nourish us – we are restored and renewed by God in order to then “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
give us a new perspective and a fresh hope as He continues to clear the muddy waters, giving us sight where we once were blind.
peel away the layers that keep us trusting Him for all things.
renew us and transform us as “deep calls to deep”, the depth of God’s love reaching into the depth of our soul.
continues to make us into His masterpiece – His workmanship – His unfolding story of beauty and excellence – so that we then can do what we were created to do, to worship God, to know Him and to love Him, even as we are known and loved by God.

Here’s my encouragement for you, perhaps my challenge for you.

During this time where we are all having to be sheltered at home, find time a quiet place – perhaps your prayer closet. Just spend time in solitude and silence and let God speak to you. During this time of uncertainty, hear God’s invitation to “be still and know that I am God”. Rediscover who God truly is, now and forever. Listen to His words of promise, life and hope. Allow Him to peel away the layers of fear, anxiety, stress, boredom, self-dependency, pride, and whatever else you may sense the Holy Spirit making you aware of during this time – allow the depth of God’s love to touch and heal and restore the depth of whatever it is that is in need of the breath of God. (I realize that some of you do not have a quiet place in the house, and there are children running around – do like Martha Wesley, the mother of John and Charles, who found her prayer closer by simply lifting her apron up over her head.)

Posted in Drops of Grace