Day 3: Stillness and Silence — Making Space for God to Speak
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10
Noise Is Everywhere. But God Is Found in Silence.
We live in a world of constant noise.
Podcasts. Notifications. Talking. Thinking.
Even in prayer, we often fill the air with words—fearing silence means absence.
But some of the deepest moments with God happen in holy stillness.
When the words stop.
When the soul quiets.
When we make space not to talk—but to listen.
To know.
Stillness doesn’t come easily.
It can feel awkward. Unproductive. Even threatening.
But that discomfort is part of the invitation.
Stillness exposes our need to control, to fill space, to be in charge.
It purifies. It stretches. And in time—it heals.
Exodus 14:14 — A Spiritual Anchor for Stillness
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” — Exodus 14:14 (ESV)
Stillness as Trust: Parting the Red Sea
This verse was spoken at a moment of extreme fear—Israel trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea. Stillness here isn’t passivity; it’s surrender. It’s the active choice to stop striving, stop panicking, and trust that God Himself is at work.
Letting God Move First
The silence Moses commands isn’t weakness—it’s obedience. Stillness clears space for God to act. When we rush ahead with noise, plans, or worry, we often get in His way.
Inner Silence Before Breakthrough
Just before the miracle of the Red Sea parting, the command was: be still.
Many breakthroughs in our lives are preceded not by shouting, but by surrender—by the quiet confidence that God is moving when we can’t.
Warfare Through Stillness
Sometimes the greatest spiritual battles are won not with loud declarations but with quiet trust.
Stillness becomes warfare when it aligns our soul with the victory of God.
Clarification: Moses wasn’t telling them to do nothing. They would still walk forward when God opened the way. The silence was inward—a posture of trust while waiting for God’s lead.
Breath Prayer from Exodus 14:14
Inhale: You fight for me...
Exhale: I will be still.
This verse pairs perfectly with the discipline of silence and the posture of those who wait quietly before the Lord, knowing He is faithful.
What Is Stillness in Prayer?
Stillness and silence in prayer isn’t just “being quiet.”
It’s the inner turning of the soul toward God without striving.
It’s waiting without performing.
It’s letting go of your agenda, your worries, your spiritual checklist.
It’s simply being—like Mary at the feet of Jesus.
“I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother…”
— Psalm 131:2
This is not passive.
It’s active surrender.
And it takes courage in a culture addicted to noise.
Why It Matters
Because God doesn’t shout over our distractions.
He often whispers.
And you can’t hear a whisper unless you’re still.
Elijah didn’t find God in the wind, the fire, or the earthquake.
He found Him in a gentle whisper.
— 1 Kings 19:11–12
Stillness teaches the heart to wait.
Silence teaches the ears to hear.
Together, they form the soil where intimacy with God takes root.
A Quiet Stream of Stillness
Since the earliest centuries, Christians have cherished silence’s sacred power.
The Desert Fathers made stillness central to prayer, with St. Arsenius saying:
“I’ve regretted speaking, but never being silent.”
Monastics called it the “language of heaven”—not empty, but full of God’s presence, fostering deep communion.
In 17th-century France, this stream reached Brother Lawrence, a former soldier named Nicholas Herman. As a monastery kitchen worker—washing dishes and mending sandals—he found God as present among pots as in cathedrals.
Practicing the “presence of God,” he turned his heart to Jesus moment by moment, saying:
“No life is sweeter than continual communion with God.”
His wordless “conversation” was a soul resting in love, teaching that stillness is active presence, and silence is Spirit-filled.
Even today, this stream continues.
A single mom turns off the radio after carpool drop-off and sits for a few moments, hands open in her lap.
A man steps outside during his lunch break, phone left inside, and breathes deeply—just aware of God’s nearness.
They may not say a word. But they are praying.
From desert caves to humble kitchens to your own backyard—this quiet stream flows through the Church today.
Today’s Prayer Challenge
Find 5 minutes today for silent prayer.
No music.
No speaking.
No asking.
Just sit quietly before the Lord.
Start with this simple posture:
- Sit still.
- Breathe slowly.
- Whisper, “Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.”
- Then stop.
- Be present.
- Let God be God.
If your mind wanders (it will), gently return to a single phrase like:
- “You are here.”
- “I trust You.”
- Or just the name: “Jesus.”
Repeat later in the day—maybe once more in the evening.
Create room for the Spirit to move.
