Embrace the Quiet: How Silence Strengthens Your Relationship with God
Last week, we talked about Why Pray? and how building a relationship with God begins by talking to Him. But prayer isn’t just about speaking—it’s also about listening. In this week’s message, we explore how embracing the quiet is one of the most powerful ways to hear God’s voice, find clarity, and live in peace.
Listen to the Episode
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Key Takeaways
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Quiet is an active spiritual practice, not just the absence of noise.
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God often speaks in silence, but our minds and emotions must be stilled to hear Him.
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Emotional control deepens relationships and prevents division.
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Avoiding audible noise creates intentional space for God to speak.
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The “Noise → Quiet → Clarity” loop can transform your work, relationships, and faith.
Scripture from This Episode
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1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 — Study to be quiet, mind your own business, and work with your hands.
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Philippians 4:6 — Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, pray with thanksgiving.
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Ephesians 4:26 — Getting angry is a reaction; remaining angry is a choice.
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Mark 1:35 — Jesus went to a solitary place to pray early in the morning.
Faith Assignment
Part 1: Practice the Noise → Quiet → Clarity loop daily for the next 7 days.
Part 2: When you’re in your quiet place, pray:
“Heavenly Father, what is blocking me from becoming the person You made me to be?”
Then, sit in silence and wait for His answer.
AI Summary
Problem: Life is filled with noise that drowns out God’s voice.
Biblical Answer: God often speaks in stillness; we must quiet our minds and hearts.
Next Step: Create daily space for silence, reflection, and listening to God.
Share With: Someone who struggles to hear from God or feels overwhelmed by life’s noise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know if I’m truly being quiet before God?
A: If your mind is still racing, keep giving your thoughts to Him. It takes practice to move past surface distractions.
Q: What if I fall asleep when I try to be still?
A: That’s okay—your body might be telling you it needs rest first. Over time, your stillness will shift from physical rest to spiritual awareness.
Q: How does controlling my emotions help me hear God?
A: Strong emotions can cloud your judgment and spiritual sensitivity. When you control them, you open space for God’s wisdom to guide you.
Q: How do I make quiet time if my home is always noisy?
A: Find a solitary place like a parked car, early morning walk, or even a locked bathroom for intentional moments with God.
Full Episode Transcript
Introduction
Last week we answered Why Pray?. We started talking to God, building the relationship. This week's word is titled Embrace the Quiet. Let’s start with some scripture:
1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 — “Study to be quiet, do your own business, work with your hands.”
I had studied many things, but never “studied to be quiet.” Honestly, I didn’t even know how to be quiet. I thought I was building a relationship with God—but I realized I was like that friend who never stops talking.
Why Quiet Matters
I prayed, listened to worship music, and stayed busy. I wasn’t doing anything “wrong,” but I was skipping a key part of relationship building—listening. My communication with God was all one-sided.
A coworker once told me they loved being around me because I was a great listener. Driving home through Houston traffic, I thought about it—and realized God often comes to us in the silent, quiet times.
First Attempts at Quiet
When I first tried being quiet, it was… awkward. Within 30 seconds I remembered 50 things I needed to do. A minute later, my mind wandered to the most random thoughts. The truth is, our brains are designed to always be “on,” and shutting them off is not easy.
You’ve probably heard “the silence is deafening.” That’s true for two reasons:
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We live in a noisy, overstimulated world. Quiet feels uncomfortable at first.
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In silence, you can hear something so loud that you can never unhear it.
Step 1 — Quiet the Mind
The hardest and loudest thing to quiet is your own mind. Philippians 4:6 tells us:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
When thoughts keep coming, give them to God. Lay your troubles at His feet—over and over if necessary—until your mind grows still.
Like someone who appears to be sleeping but is wide awake inside, we can fake stillness while our minds race. Even famous figures like Robin Williams seemed joyful outwardly but were struggling internally.
Step 2 — Control Your Emotions
Controlling your emotions doesn’t mean becoming a robot—it means using wisdom. Emotions are a sign that something matters to you, and they can draw people closer or push them away.
Ephesians 4:26 reminds us:
“Getting angry is a reaction, but remaining angry is a choice.”
David modeled this when Saul, who was trying to kill him, unknowingly entered the cave where David was hiding. David could have ended Saul’s life but instead spared him, showing remarkable self-control.
In daily life, this might mean pausing five seconds before responding in an emotional conversation, or writing an unsent letter (as Abraham Lincoln often did) to release emotion without causing harm.
Step 3 — Avoid Audible Noise
This is the most obvious but often the hardest. The world is filled with constant noise—TVs, phones, notifications, traffic, voices.
Mark 1:35 tells us:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”
Find your “solitary place,” whether it’s a closed room, a quiet park, or early morning stillness.
The Noise → Quiet → Clarity Loop
Returning to 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, I began living in a loop:
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Noise: Do the work.
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Quiet: Step back and be still.
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Clarity: Receive direction and peace.
This loop made me a better manager, husband, father, and friend. A noisy mind is a divided mind—but a quiet heart is powerful.
Faith Assignment
Part 1: Practice the Noise → Quiet → Clarity loop daily for 7 days.
Part 2: In your quiet place, ask:
“Heavenly Father, what is blocking me from becoming the person You made me to be?”
Then be still and listen.
