To me, there are few things that compare to sitting alone in a quiet house before anyone else is awake in the morning. The silence is calming and allows me to forget about the stress and worry of the world outside, if only for a little while. The frailty of the moment permits an intimacy with God in which I am truly aware of His presence. While I know He is always there, it is in these times that I can fully focus and experience Him. My heart quiets and the constant whirring in my brain begins to slow into a rhythmic dance with my Creator. I am awake and I am aware; it is an awesome place and a great way to start each day.
For those who do not know Christ, such a silence can be deafening. Instead of peace flooding their soul, they are instead bombarded by thoughts of loneliness, depression and despair. They feel neither the presence of God nor anyone else. Their souls are under constant attack from Satan as he feeds their fears and heightens their anguish. He gets inside their head and twists and weaves his way through their mind, depositing lies and leaving a trail of despondency in his wake. Each day the cycle continues until there is no longer any hope or reason for them to go on with their life.
What a contrast in the way two people can experience silence. To one, there is peace and solace; to the other, torment and distress. The difference between these two extremes is simply Jesus. Only He can bring quiet to the noise of life; only He can bring peace in the midst of strife, and only He can bring stillness amidst the chaos. Is it any wonder why the Bible states that having Jesus is more valuable than silver or gold? What He brings to a life is priceless and beyond comparison. His peace is available to all who will call Him Lord and give Him full control of their lives out of love for Him. It’s as simple as asking Him to dwell in your life so that you can know Him better.
With everything to gain, why do so few seek to attain His presence in their lives? I believe one reason is that we who know Christ are not reflecting His love and peace in our own lives. We get so caught up in the concerns of life that we cast a shadow over the light that shines within us. There are fewer sadder sights than a stressed out Christian. We claim to worship a God of peace and love, yet when others look at our lives they only see the same struggles that they face. If we don’t shine brightly with the joy of Christ, they will not see the attraction in following Him. Living a life that is dedicated to Jesus is very difficult, but the great paradox is that within that difficulty we find great peace and rest. If we don’t model that peace to those around us, they will see only the difficulty and take a pass on following Christ.
We’ve got to rein in our busyness and obsession with competing in a world that has rejected God as the supreme authority. We can’t live a life that claims devotion to Him and yet acts in a manner consistent with those who despise Him. When we are focused wholly on Him in everything we do, we will find great peace and stillness in our hearts. We will experience a love that cannot be explained and will find our minds exquisitely bathed in His light. Jesus calms every worry and satisfies every desire. If you would have peace, you will not find it outside of a life lived for Him. Having found such love, it is our duty and privilege to pass it along to others.
Dwell in the stillness of His love and reflect His glory to a desperate world. We are called to be the carriers of His light into the darkness. May the love of God shine humbly and brightly through you into the hearts of the least, the lost and the dying. Work tirelessly for His glory and when you falter, retreat into His arms. There you will find comfort and there you will find rest. In Him there is peace; we need only be still.