Finding God in the Quiet

A Place to Just Be

As I was out walking the other day, I was drawn to this scene. The grass was so lush and green. It was a place that looked so inviting—somewhere I could just go, lie down, look up at the clouds, and spend some alone time with God.

It reminded me of what Psalm 23:2 says:

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters.”

As I was praying and asking the Holy Spirit what I should blog about, I was reminded of this scene. I could picture myself going there to have some silence and solitude with God.

A quiet place.

A place with no one around.

Just me and God.

Do I Really Seek God?

In a world where we are constantly hurrying here and there, it seems that we often desire being with friends and family and having conversations more than we desire being quiet, withdrawing, and being alone with God.

I know I am guilty of this myself.

But have you ever thought about the fact that God wants us to seek Him? He wants us to need Him and desire Him.

There are many verses in the Bible that talk about seeking God. One that comes to mind is Jeremiah 29:13:

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

So, my thought lately has been:

Do I really seek God?

I mean really seek Him—like I would seek hidden treasure?

Do I take the time to just be with Him and listen to Him?

Just sitting with Him like I would sit with my favorite person and wanting to absorb all I could about them?

I am sad to say that I don't do this as often as I should.

Yes, I do it occasionally.

I read God's Word on a regular basis, and I pray as I walk. And those things can certainly be times of silence and solitude.

But lately, I feel like there is something stirring in me that wants more.

More time to just sit with God.

More time to listen.

More time to hear what He wants and desires.

Quiet Doesn't Come Naturally to Me

If you know me, you know I am a talker!

So being quiet is something I truly need to work on.

I'm also an extrovert, so I love being with friends and family. I love being social. I love conversation.

But perhaps that is exactly why silence and solitude need to become more of a priority in my life.

Because if I'm not intentional about it, it probably isn't going to happen.

Jesus Showed Us the Way

And if you're like me, you may be thinking, “I just don't have time for this.”

I want to encourage you—you can.

Silence and solitude are usually found together, and Jesus is our example.

The Scriptures show us this very clearly.

Matthew 14:23 says:

“After he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”

Jesus sent the crowds away and His disciples away so that He could be alone with the Father.

Mark 1:35 says:

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

Jesus got up early to spend time with His Father. He knew the crowds would soon be coming back, but He made time to be alone with God.

And then we see this in Luke 4:42:

“When it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him and would have kept him from leaving them.”

Jesus did not allow the demands of others to dictate whether He would get alone with His Father.

He knew how important it was.

And if Jesus needed this time with His Father, how much more do I need it?

How much more do you need it?

Do I Not Have Time—or Do I Not Make Time?

I know you may be thinking, “I don't have time for this.”

And to that, I would simply say:

Do I not have time, or do I not make time?

For me, I have to make it a priority or it won't get done.

Maybe you're thinking, “But what would this actually look like in my life?”

Here are a few ideas.

1. Get Up Early

Jesus did this, and maybe for you it would mean getting up 15–30 minutes before everyone else.

You could use that time to sit quietly with God, read His Word, pray, journal, or simply be still in His presence.

2. Use Your Lunch Break

If you work, you could take some of your lunch break and sit in your car.

You could read God's Word, sit quietly and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you, or journal what God is showing you in His Word so you can meditate on it and apply it to your life.

3. Stop Somewhere Quiet

Maybe you could stop at a park or another quiet place on your way home.

Get out. Sit for a few minutes. Enjoy God's creation.

Be quiet.

Talk with God.

Listen.

4. Take a “Minute Retreat”

I love this idea because sometimes we make things much harder than they need to be.

A “minute retreat” could happen at a traffic light, in an elevator, or while you're waiting in a drive-through.

Instead of reaching for your phone or filling the moment with noise, what if you

intentionally used that minute to turn your attention toward Christ?

Be still.

Breathe.

Rest by faith in Him.

Even a minute can become an opportunity to remember that He is with you.

Ask the Holy Spirit to Show You

I want to encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you can have some silence and solitude with God.

I believe that when we ask, He will show us.

It may not look the way you think it should.

It may not be an hour sitting in a beautiful field.

It may be fifteen minutes before everyone wakes up.

It may be sitting in your car.

It may be a quiet walk.

Or it may simply be one intentional minute in the middle of a busy day.

The important thing is making space to be with Him.

What Happens When I Get Still?

I've found in my own life that when I intentionally set aside time with God, I am more settled, less anxious, and more aware of God's goodness and grace toward me.

And honestly, I think that's what my soul has been longing for lately.

Not necessarily more activity.

Not another thing to accomplish.

Just more of Him.

More quiet.

More listening.

More time in His presence.

So, will you join me?

Will you ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you can make space for some silence and solitude with God?

Will you make it a priority to be still before your Father?

I can assure you—you won't be disappointed.

Until next time,

Beth