Silence—Here and Now

Tom Barnard

 

“Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,

I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

(Psalm 46:10, 11)

 

Political campaigning is over—for a while. Aren’t you glad? No more polls to watch. No more charges and counter-charges between candidates. No more of the same talking heads being invited to the same prime-time television programs to recite over and over the same folderol (nonsense). No more late-night political comedy. No more commercials for or against the candidates. Finally, silence. Here and now.

 

I am ready for this kind of silence. And my heart longs for another kind of silence. Before the Lord.

 

Consider this hymn stanza, written by Katharina von Schlegel in 1752. Try reciting this every day.

 

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 

What is the purpose of being silent before the Lord?

 

To hear God speak through Scripture…through music…through nature…through friends.

 

We will never hear God’s voice until we are quiet—until our hearts and minds are attuned to Him.

 

Heavenly Father, I quiet my soul before you today. Thankfully, the rants of recent months and days are over. Thankfully, the political pundits will move on to other subjects. Thankfully, the things that divided us from our brethren will fade away. Thankfully, we can return to eternal values. Thankfully, we can rediscover your agenda for us. I pray that you will calm our fears and bring peace to our spirits. Thank you for reminding me that I am a child of the King, whose kingdom is eternal. Amen.