By: Heidi Jo Fulk
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So we’re moms and the probability of quiet in our lives is anywhere from “not likely” to “you’ve got to be kidding me”. I get it. I truly do. If we want and need quiet, we’re going to have to hunt it down like it’s the last drop of water in the desert. But remember, the kind of quiet that we’re talking about here is not just reduced noise. It may be that, but it goes deeper too. Quiet means a reliance on God—seeking Him for wisdom and strength and not thinking and acting in our own power. Quiet means self-control. It means placing our hope in God and His word. It means putting God in His rightful place.
So practically speaking, how can we pursue quiet? Strength, hope, power, and wisdom are waiting for us if we do, so let’s figure it out.
Pray. The should-be-obvious, but often-passed-over starting place. If you desire quiet in any form in your life, ask for it! Ask God to give you a quiet spirit—to show you exactly what that looks like for you. Ask God to help you find quiet times because, as impossible as it may seem, He’s good at impossible. Ask God to quiet your anxious heart. Ask God to still your racing mind. These are things you know He wants for you, so ask.
Read the Word—then use it as a tool. Reading any part of the Bible is a way to pursue quiet. It’s Truth and reading and knowing Truth will give you the wisdom and action steps you need. It will transform your mind. So read it. Meditate on it. Pray it back to the Lord. There are several verses in the first quiet post you can put in your toolbox and here’s one more:
Zephaniah 3:17—The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing.
Know where your “pause” and “stop” buttons are. So let’s say that you’ve prayed and asked God for a quiet spirit. You’ve been reading your Bible and even praying a specific “quiet” verse. But something happens. Worry comes creeping into your mind. A situation starts to spiral out of control. You’re confronted by something you want to react to out of the emotions churning in your gut. Hit pause. Push stop. There is a way out! Ask God to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Even if it has to be moment by moment sometimes, He is able to quiet your mind and heart if you are willing to obey Him.
Seek moments or chunks of quiet. There is value in quiet (the reduced noise kind) times. While certainly as a mom those are often few and far between, if you’re purposefully looking for them, you’ll be more likely to find them. So look for the moments in your day where you can snag a little quiet. Even plan for a chunk of quiet—whatever that might look like for you—so you can allow God to pour His strength into you.
The goal here is not just times of quiet. The goal is a quiet mind, heart, and spirit. I don’t think any of us want a life that is cluttered with spinning thoughts, confused emotions, and a bitter or selfish attitude. But rather, we should desire a life that is controlled by the Spirit, seeking God’s purpose, and allowing Christ to work in and through us (Colossians 1:27-29).
I’m praying you might find your quiet. I’m asking God to show each one of us what quiet looks like in our lives. And I’m asking Him for His strength to pursue it.
