Sitting in the Silence

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Hey Sis,

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Have you ever had one of those moments when you have just arrived home after a few hours of running errands, pulled into your drive, parked the car, and just sat in the silence?

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I have found that often, in those few moments of silence, my peace is reset. It's where the demands suddenly go silent and I am able to just take a few breaths—the kind of breath that releases the tension of the day and prepares you to move into the next part of your journey.

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Science says that when we pause and take a few breaths in between tasks, we allow our minds to actually catch up with what we have been pushing through. It allows the many thoughts to settle like dust, letting things become clearer.

I think for many, sitting with ourselves in silence can be deafening.

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Why is that? Because when the outside noise finally shuts off, the inside noise gets turned all the way up. All the thoughts, worries, to-do lists, and emotions we’ve been running away from or pushing down all day suddenly have center stage. Without a distraction, we are left completely alone with ourselves—and sometimes, that feels incredibly uncomfortable.

But that discomfort is exactly where the healing is.

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Think about that parked car. When you pull into the drive and leave the key in the ignition, you are physically separating yourself. You’ve left the errands behind, but you haven't yet stepped into the responsibilities waiting for you past the front door. That driver's seat becomes a sacred middle ground. It is a boundary.

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Scripture shows us this isn't just good science; it's a spiritual necessity. Even Jesus, with the weight of the world on His shoulders, intentionally withdrew to quiet, lonely places to reset. He knew that the noise of the world can drown out the things that matter most. We see it all through the Word—from the gentle reminder to "be still" and drop our hands, to the story of Elijah realizing God wasn’t in the roaring wind or the fire, but in the sound of sheer silence.

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It’s in the stillness—after the rush of the chaos passes—that we can finally hear that still, small voice whispering to our hearts.

 

We need to practice staying in that boundary for three vital reasons:

• For Peace: It gives our nervous system permission to drop its guard. It’s a white flag to the hustle of the day, allowing us to "be still" and remember who is actually in control.

• For Clarity: Like sediment shaking around in a glass of water, you can't see through the mud until the glass sets still. Silence lets the dust settle so you can actually see what matters.

• For a Healthy Reset: Stepping straight from one chaotic task into another means you are carrying old stress into a new space. Taking those few minutes in the car allows you to leave the morning's friction in the driveway, so you can walk through your front door completely present.

 

The next time you find yourself reaching for the car door handle the second you park, I challenge you to just pause. Turn off the engine. Sit with the silence for just two minutes. Let it be deafening for a moment, until it finally becomes peaceful. You might be surprised at who walks into the house just a few minutes later.

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A Reminder to you to give yourself grace daily. Here are a few scriptures to encourage you today.

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1. The "Stillness and Clarity" Connection

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God..."

• Why it fits: The Hebrew root for "be still" (raphah) literally means to let go, cease striving, or let your hands drop down. It’s exactly what you’re doing in that parked car—dropping your hands off the steering wheel, ceasing the running of errands, and letting go so you can remember who is actually in control.

 

2. The "Parked Car as a Secret Place" Connection

Luke 5:16 "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

• Why it fits: Jesus constantly dealt with demands, crowds, and endless tasks, yet He intentionally drew physical boundaries. He walked away from the noise to find the quiet. Your parked car is modern-day "withdrawing to a lonely place"—a intentional, physical separation to reset before stepping into the next ministry of your day (your home and family).

 

3. The "After the Wind and Chaos" Connection

1 Kings 19:11-12 "...And after the wind an earthquake... and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

• Why it fits: Elijah was overwhelmed, exhausted, and running. God didn't speak to him in the roaring wind or the chaos; He spoke in the "still, small voice" (or as some translations say, "a gentle whisper" or "the sound of sheer silence"). We have to let the chaos of our day pass by before we can hear that whisper.