Enter a deep woods this time of year and experience an intensity of quiet that most of us rarely encounter. No traffic din or sirens, no lawn mowers or leaf blowers, even birdsong is only intermittent, since most of our feathered friends have headed south.
Stand still or sit on a rock for a spell and absorb the soft quiet that hovers in the trees [1].
Research has proven that quiet solitude provides benefits, including improved mental clarity, reduced stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and enhanced creativity [2].
For Jesus followers, there are even more benefits with profound effect.
Andrew Murray (1828-1917), a South African pastor, teacher, and author stated:
Of course, he wasn’t talking about a walk in the woods—valuable as that is. Murray wanted his readers to know that blessing, strength, and great gain result from quiet solitude with God, as we spend time with him in worship, meditation on his Word, prayer, and listening.
But Murray only summarized the results of stillness before God. Others have added more specificity, including the benefits listed below.
QUIETNESS IS . . .
. . . REVITALIZATION
As dew refreshes grass and flowers during the stillness of the night, so God’s presence revitalizes us as we sit quietly with him [3].
. . . TRUST IN GOD
As we rest in God’s Presence, focusing on him, he quietly builds bonds of trust between us and him [4].
. . . TRANSFORMATION
Stillness transforms heart and mind [5].
. . . PEACE
Resting in God’s presence is the best way to receive his gift of peace [6].
. . . SPIRITUAL GROWTH
“In order to grow in grace, we must spend a great deal of time in quiet solitude” [7].
. . . STRENGTH
“In quietness and trust we collect God’s strength” [8].
. . . TRUTH
“It is in quiet solitude that we catch the deep and mysterious truths that flow from the soul of the things God allows to enter our lives” [9].
. . . INTIMACY WITH GOD
“We cannot realize true intimacy with God until we learn to come before him in quietness of spirit, mind, and body” [10].
. . . PLEASURE
The practice of creating quiet is not meant to be a constrictive discipline; it’s meant to be a restful pleasure as we enjoy the glorious presence of our Heavenly Father [11].
No wonder God inspired a psalmist to write: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). The benefits are many and far-reaching—down into our own spirits and outward into the lives of others, as these delights impact our responses and reactions.
In fact:
Let’s choose to sit for a spell by the Rock of our salvation, and absorb in our spirit the soft quiet that hovers in the heavenlies around us (Ephesians 1:3).
* * * * * * * * * *
Now it’s your turn! How do you make time for quiet? How has stillness before God impacted your life? Have you found ways to quiet the inner noise that interferes with focusing on God?
Please share in the comment section below!
[1] The last eight words based on a line from Sara Teasdale’s poem, “Silence.”
[2] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-the-wild-things-are/202501/the-benefits-of-quiet-solitude
[3] Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, 258.
[4] Young, 119.
[5] Young, 161.
[6] Young, 267.
[7] L. B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert, Jim Reimann, ed., 372.
[8] F. Elaine Olsen, Beyond the Scars, 105.
[9] L. B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert, 406.
[10] Linda Dillow, Satisfy the Thirsty Soul, 49.
[11] An impression I recorded one morning not long ago.
Image credits: http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.canva.com (4).
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AMEN NANCY JESUS ❤
Praise God–and thank you, Kristi!
It is wonderful to have a conversation with God when it’s blissfully quiet, but that can be a challenge. I’m not the only one that wakes up early in the morning anymore! 🙂
Agreed, Nancy! Retirement caused change in our routines also. I’m blessed to have an office where I can sequester myself in almost-quiet! Now I’m used to my husband’s puttering about and tune it out. He prefers a different order to his morning routine and has his quiet time later in the morning. We’ve adjusted!
You’re a well organized person, Nancy. 😁
I’ve found this to be so true for me over the years, Nancy. It is the quiet times in God’s presence that I feel overwhelmingly close to Him and engulfed by peace. Maybe, “quiet” should be in the running for my 2026 word of the year. Blessings!
Agreed, Martha–a daily quiet time refocuses our minds and hearts away from what ails us mentally and emotionally and toward our all-powerful, all-wise, sovereign God. / You’re right: “Quiet” just might make a worthy choice for word of the year!
Even Jesus separated Himself from His followers seeking quiet.
True indeed, Linda! If HE prioritized time away with his Father, how much more should we?
Early morning is my time for quiet although sometimes I have another early bird that likes to talk to me 🙂 But an even bigger issue is quieting my heart and my thoughts. I’ve been convicted about checking my phone as I take my first few sips of coffee. It’s easy to let that get carried away and then I am distracted. By the way, you shared my mother’s favorite verse – “Be still and know that I am God.” I have some very special memories about the reason that verse became her favorite.
I can only imagine how many times you must be interrupted by that other early bird! No doubt God smiles in appreciation for your determination and perseverance not to give up. / Your mother’s favorite Bible verse may be short but it sure is rich in significance. “Stillness” is a word with multiple nuances of meaning, and “knowing God” can be a joyous, lifelong endeavor of exploring his infinite Personhood!
Psalm 46:10 is one of my favorites. I make the time to be quiet in the morning. It is the cornerstone of peace for me. Beautiful post, Nancy!
First thing in the morning has worked well for me also, except when I had little ones at home, and then nap time became my quiet time. I love your descriptive phrase, “cornerstone of peace.” That’s perfect, Wynne!
this is so true! and needed. I yearn for more and more stillness and quiet in this noisy world. You did a beautiful job of explaining the beauty found in quiet. thank you Nancy!
Thank you, Jean. I too gravitate toward stillness and quiet, Jean. I used to be an extravert, but the older I get the more introverted I become. From what I’ve read, it’s a natural progression as we age.
It’s in the quiet that I often find clarity….
Amen to that, RH!
I have found that quietness opens my heart to the voice of the Holy Spirit. I have cut down on my internet time to allow more peace in my life. Decluttering my mind is the key for me.
“Decluttering the mind” is a wise objective, Cheri. And filling our minds with praise of God and gratitude for all he does for us will do much to create that quietness of spirit we need. Thank you for adding this strategy to the conversation!
I’m sure you’ve listened to Amy Grant’s music, Nancy. I find her faith songs timeless, especially her first several albums. This post reminded me of the single “Be Still and Know (that I am God)”. The lyrics are all about quiet and focus, as in “I know there’s more to livin’ life than what I see. And you know I’ll find it in the quiet and believe”.
Yes, we did listen to Amy Grant’s music back in the day. We owned a couple of her albums. But this song you’ve mentioned, Dave, isn’t a familiar one to me.( I listened to it on YouTube.) I especially liked the second verse. Praise God he IS “waiting and watching, whispering softly underneath the never-ending noise!”
Nancy,
Stillness. Silence. Hard in today’s noisy, bright, and distracting times. The real life is beyond all that.
Thank you, Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Amen, Gary! (And well said!)
This was so tremendously encouraging–and yet so difficult to accomplish! The world is loud, fast-moving, hugely demanding, and shaming, all at once. Making space for stillness is a challenge because it isn’t valued in our culture. Thanks for the encouraging words and ideas on how to focus on being still, how to actively pursue stillness. I’m trying to make it more a part of my life, but it is a challenge.
God bless you for your honesty and humility, Dayle. You may find inspiration in these books which I found helpful in my journey toward greater intimacy with God: 1) Enjoying the Presence of God by Jan Johnson (Navpress, 1996) and Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton (InterVarsity Press, 2010). No doubt God is delighted with your effort to pursue stillness with him!
Beautiful post! It is God who brings us peace. Without Him, there is no peace! If we begin each day in prayer, we are able to focus our thoughts on God and all His bountiful blessings. We ‘see’ the world in a new way. Our ‘well’ of refreshment never ends. It is always there for us…but we must come to the well daily and often.
Amen, Linda. Such an important practice–to come often to well of refreshment. Christ’s living water does indeed provide everything we need to experience the abundant life he offers (John 4:14; 10:10)!
Wonderful to read and take in, Nancy. There is nothing that compares to the healing of mind and body that God supplies through being still in his presence, wherever that may be. “For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
Thank you for adding that scripture to the conversation, Dora. God does indeed supply strength as we spend quiet time with him in his reassuring presence, and reaffirm all the reasons we can trust him.
A beautiful invitation to pull aside and be quiet with Him, Nancy.
Thank you, Lisa. As always, I must praise God for his inspiration!