Scripture
22Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Matthew 14:22-23
Observation
Jesus had just heard the news of his cousin, John the Baptist, being beheaded. Stop and look at that sentence. What would I do if my family member and fellow minister, the one who first recognized me publicly for who I really was, the one who had baptized me had been beheaded by a lustful King and vengeful Queen? I’d be done. Jesus was literally trying to get away to grieve in the boat when the crowds found him. Instead of fighting for some much deserved “me time” he “had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Perhaps the best way to kick the spirit of death in the teeth was to walk in the power of life for these hurting people. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, He took on an impromptu catering job and fed 5,000 plus women and children. “Immediately after this…” is a literary indication that Jesus was now in urgent need of getting alone with The Father and grieving the loss of John. Before Jesus rescues His disciples from yet another storm while walking on the water, He had to stop walking, stop ministering, stop rescuing and let The Father minister to Him. If Jesus needed to get alone in prayer, solitude and silence what makes me think it’s an option for me?
Application
Last night we launched our Young Adults ministry at The Goode’s house. It was amazing to see so many come out on our first night to enjoy good food and conversation. Our first discussion topic was how technology is a knife that cuts both ways. We did an experiment at the end where we were silent before the Lord for five minutes. To be honest, it felt like an eternity. It used to be said that “silence is golden”, but now silence is something we’re scared of. Think about it. From the moment we wake up to the moment we fall back to sleep we surrounded by screens and sounds. Whether in our bedroom, kitchen, car, gym, office or even outside at a beach or park we are addicted to the constant noise and stimuli or our screens. So the idea of silence and solitude is completely foreign to us. Andy Duncan, a phobia expert who has worked with Royal Marines to tackle their fear in combat, said: “Noise has changed so much in a century that it has started to impact the way we look at it. “People with sedatephobia would find it completely impossible to manage without constant noise and this can cause problems with insomnia, with social interaction and in their work where they might find it hard to concentrate.” Two thirds of Europeans – 450 million people – are exposed every day to noise levels that the World Health Organization (WHO) says are unacceptable. A study done in Australia of 580 undergraduate students found nearly all of them suffer from Sedatephobia- the fear of silence. Almost every young person suffers from a high stress relationship with extended periods of quiet. The assumption of a delayed response to a text, instant message or voicemail is that they’ve been ghosted or worse yet, canceled. This irrational fear of silence is a learned behavior which means it can also be unlearned. So, why don’t we? Another saying goes like this, “silence speaks a thousand words.” We don’t want silence because it forces us be alone with our thoughts. If we don’t like what’s going in on our head we won’t want to admit what’s going on our heart. As Christians we say we want to hear the Lord’s voice when it comes to direction, decisions, and discernment, but do we really? Are we afraid that if we silence ourselves before the Lord He’s going to convict us of our sin or call us to do something uncomfortable? What’s the alternative? To continue to numb our senses with constant noises and voices ensures we will never hear the One Voice that can calm the storms inside us and around us.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for this challenge. Nate was just telling me at Life Group that he is going to take the five minutes of silence challenge every day and I’m going to join Him. I really believe this simple practice is something You’re using to call me back to Yourself. Show me what I need to grieve, what I need to process, what I need to hand over. I won’t have anything to offer others if I don’t first receive from You.
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