The Sound of Stillness

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” — Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

When digital music first arrived, I was selling stereo equipment. The store had a sound room where shoppers could test tuners, CD players, and speakers. I’d often demonstrate the gear using Dire Straits’ Money for Nothing—the clarity of the vocals and instruments was breathtaking. It was a sonic revelation.

But what struck me most wasn’t just the sound—it was the silence. Unlike vinyl records, which always carried a faint hiss, digital silence was pure. Pristine. The absence of noise became punctuation, a space where the music could breathe.

Prayer can be like that. We often feel the need to fill every moment with words—thanks, petitions, praise—and rightly so, God should be exalted and is eager to answer our prayers. But sometimes, the most profound moments come when we stop speaking. In the pure and perfect silence, we begin to hear.

Psalm 46:10 invites us into stillness—not just physical quiet, but spiritual attentiveness. “Be still” is not passive; it’s an active posture of trust. In the biblical narrative, God’s voice often comes not in thunder or fire, but in a “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). Silence is not empty—it’s expectant. It’s the sacred pause where God speaks and we truly listen.

Just as digital silence allows music to breathe, spiritual silence allows our souls to receive. It’s not the absence of sound, but the presence of God.

In your prayer life this week, consider building in intentional silence. Begin with your usual words of gratitude and intercession but then pause. Let the silence be your offering. Resist the urge to fill it. Trust that God is present in the stillness.

You might even notice that, like a well-composed song, the silence between the notes is what gives the melody its shape.

God of stillness and song, quiet our hearts so we may hear You. In the silence, let Your presence fill the space between our words. Teach us to trust the pause, to rest in Your grace, and to listen for Your gentle whisper. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim