Quieter
What comes to mind when you hear that word?
As I set here typing this post, I am sitting in the quiet of our home. The only noise, the ticking of our clock. That used to annoy me, but now it reminds me of just how quiet it is. It’s peaceful, calming, and refreshing.
But when you think of the word “quieter,” do you ever think about the things that ARE quieter in life versus living IN quiet? Of course there is much peace and refreshment to be found in living IN quiet. Much like the lack of noise I was talking about earlier. So what do I mean by things that ARE quieter in my life?
Over the past few years, there are things in life that make less noise in my life than they used to. Control. Stress. Busyness. Guilt. Worry. All of these things, to some extent, have been quieter for me. I worry less. I stress less. I try to not overwhelm myself with busyness. I feel less guilt in some things. I control less when it comes to God’s plan for me. And it’s the most freeing feeling – much like that freeing feeling of that ticking clock, that used to annoy me. But as I learn to quiet my HEART, it just opens up more room for God to work.
You see, the things that are getting quieter in my life, are things that were shouting at me in the past. Shouting so loud at me that I couldn’t make sense of the noise and it started to overwhelm me. Overwhelm my thoughts. Overwhelm my heart. And just made me more busy as I tried to sift through all the noise. I sometimes wanted to just cup my hands over my ears so that the noise wouldn’t be so deafening, but realized it had to start in my heart. Stress, guilt, control, and worry can do that sometimes, can’t they?
I had to start trusting that God was worth trusting. I had to start letting go of the things that I couldn’t control. I had to stop busying myself. And trust me, it’s been completely worth it. Yet I have a LONG ways to go!
Yes, living IN the quiet is good too. But what are the things in your life that need to be quieted or become quietER? What lies and deception are filling your mind and heart, filling them with unwelcomed noise? My list could go on and on, but having less worry, control, and stress makes room for the noise of Christ in my life. How about you?
