“Maybe I have been living much too fast, too restlessly, too feverishly, forgetting to pay attention to what is happening here and now, right under my nose. Just as a whole world of beauty can be discovered in one flower, so the great grace of God can be tasted in one small moment. Just as no great travels are necessary to see the beauty of creation, so no great ecstasies are needed to discover the love of God. But you have to be still and wait so that you can realize that God is not in the earthquake, the storm, or the lightning, but in the gentle breeze with which he touches your back” (Henri Nouwen).

When was the last time you were still? I don’t mean just sitting down or sedentary while looking at your phone. I mean you were still. No books, no phone, no television, no radio or streaming. Just you alone with your thoughts and God.

One of the most needed commands in the Bible comes in Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”

How can we ever hope to hear from God when we are allergic to silence and stillness? How can we discern God’s voice if our days are filled with constant noise and tasks filling up the margins of our existence?

Being still isn’t natural. It’s as much a discipline as prayer, fasting, meditating, or studying your Bible. And if you wait until you have time, you will never start. As with anything that’s important, you have to make time by prioritizing stillness over activity and busyness. But in the end, it’s worth it.