Prayer 101: Silence & Solitude, Part 1

Life in the early twenty-first century is not simple. It is noisy and crowded. Life almost seems to interfere with Life. 

In chapter 3 of Peter Scazerro's book  "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality", the ideas of silence and solitude are introduced in defining "contemplative spirituality". As we are in the process of becoming whole, we must join together "emotional health"  with "contemplative spirituality".

The maturation process (sanctification) includes this holistic view of who we are. More than that, I believe, is that to have a  true and right and proper relationship with God - and therefore one another - we must be emotionally and spiritually healthy.

Scazerro briefly writes about such great saints as Saint Francis of Assisi and  Mother Teresa of Calcutta who regularly made time to be silent and alone with God. They knew that in order for them to be fully used by God,  they needed to be regularly - and sometimes daily - recharged. They knew that they couldn't do it in their own strength. Today, we give that idea a lot of lip service but don't really know how to do it. Keep in mind that this is a discipline that even our Lord Jesus regularly practiced. If He needed to find times of silence and solitude, how much more do we need to do those things? Life in the "fast lane" surely makes  us "lose our minds..."  

In the study, "The Divine Mentor", Wayne Cordeiro speaks of Martha,  sister of Mary and Lazarus and friend of Jesus. Martha often has a bad rap about being too busy. Mary received kudos for being and sitting at Jesus' feet while Martha is "scolded". As I wrote in "Martha and Trees",  I believe (although Scripture doesn't tell us directly) that Jesus at some point pulled Martha aside privately and lovingly said something like, "Would you please just stop? Just stop and be with me." 

When it comes to a vibrant prayer life - and yes, a healthy spiritual life - silence and solitude are prerequisites. Steps three and four in the progression,  Listening to God and Being with God, demand the disciplines of silence and solitude. They go hand in hand with wholeness and living a life of  Prayer. Unfortunately, many fear these disciplines. With that in mind,  let's learn instead to embrace them.

I believe one thing that most of us lack in our lives (I know mine anyway), is Silence. There's something to the belief that "silence is golden". Silence is indeed precious. Think about it, how many of us have the television or radio on in the background for the simple "need" of noise? We wake up in the morning and turn on the TV or radio to get the news or weather or sports as we start the day. After starting the car, we almost immediately turn on the radio or go to our playlist or podcast. Our workplace is filled with chatter. Even many elevators have "muzak" playing in the background. It seems as if we can't get away from the noise of life.

Getting to a place of silence takes effort. In our small group this morning, our leader mentioned that even in prayer groups, most people can't handle more than about 15 SECONDS of silence! That's incredible. Fifteen SECONDS! Many of us have succumbed to the notion that there has to be something "on" around us. We see people walking down the street with earbuds in their ears listening to whatever they're listening to. Some of my friends who commute on the train listen to Bible studies or Christian music to filter out the world around them. That's OK, but are we making time for silence?

It seems that we just can't live without some kind of background "ambiance". And I ask myself, "Why not?" Even as I write this piece, I'm listening to my favorite Christian station online. Why can't I just sit and think and write in silence? As "good" as Christian music is, why can't I just enjoy the silence?

But there are times when I truly enjoy abject silence. On my infrequent days off, I like being silent. I enjoy not talking. I enjoy not listening to stuff around me. Whether it's a walk in the snow of winter or sitting by the pool in the summer, I enjoy times of silence. Silence helps to take away the clutter of life. But I'm still listening!

The difference is "what" I'm listening to. On a winter walk, it's the crunch of the snow and ice beneath my feet. In the spring, summer, and early fall, it's the sound of a warm breeze and the birds. When there is silence, I am more attuned to the natural world around me. I can see and hear and experience the beauty that God is showing me in nature. When I  am silent, my senses of sight and sound are heightened.

Before we start, we have to be clear about what silence is NOT. Silence is not evacuating the mind to nothingness. We are not to go to a place of silence like the Eastern mystics. We are not to be silent and thereby leave our minds "empty". We are to be silent (mouths shut, ears open, minds attentive) and fill the silence with God.

Oftentimes, we need silence. Silence works to heal us from the inside. I have fought with mild seasonal depression over the years and in those times of silence, God has been able to speak to me and heal me. 

In Psalm 46:10, God says, "be still and know that I am God." Being still means being silent. How am I to hear and listen to God if I'm busy flapping my gums?

When  God revealed Himself to the great prophet Elijah, Elijah was silent.  God was whispering. The context of the event is that, through God's power, Elijah had just defeated the prophets of Baal. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah, wanting to prove the power of God, sets up a test. He gives all of the advantages to the priests and prophets of Baal - King Ahab's and Queen Jezebel's men. After hours of tedious crying out to Baal without success - while Elijah taunts them - great success and power are shown by God as He consumes by fire not only Elijah's good offering (altar and all), but the false prophets' offering as well. God wins, but in this success, Elijah has just made his situation worse. Ahab and Jezebel are now more intent on killing the prophet of God!

So  Elijah runs. And runs. Finally, he stops and rests. God provides him with food and drink - ravens bring the food and there is a brook close by.  He sleeps. He rests. But He is depressed. Even after a great victory,  the prophet is depressed. He needs some kind of assurance from God.  Elijah inaccurately believes that he "is the only one left" to serve  God. How often do we put ourselves in that position?

God takes the time to first minister to Elijah's physical needs of rest, food, and drink. But now God will minister to Elijah's spiritual need; Himself. God is the fulfillment of all of our spiritual needs. Because of his depression, Elijah "demands" that God reveal Himself to the prophet. How often have I done that? How often have I demanded that God show up and take care of me and my needs? Let's just say that it's far too many times. But don't miss the irony in all of this! Just several days before, Elijah - God actually - defeated all of the prophets of Baal. He should be on cloud nine. It was a mountain-top experience.

The reality is that Elijah is completely exhausted; mentally, physically,  emotionally, and spiritually. He's not healthy. God can't - you know what I  mean - effectively use Elijah or me when I'm in this condition. And so  Elijah (and I) cry out to God, "I feel alone. I'm tired. Show me YOU!"  That's pretty demanding. And God in His mercy, is gracious. Let's see what God does next.

"The  angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said,  'Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. 

"And the word of the LORD came to him: 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' 

"He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The   Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.

"The LORD said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.'

"Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came to a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

"Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'

"He replied, 'I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The   Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now   they are trying to kill me too.'" 1 Kings 19:7-14.

In his silence, Elijah was able to experience God. God's whisper is a powerful thing in and for our lives. When I am about the cacophony of my own life, I can't hear anything, let alone a whisper. God's whisper, when we are still and silent, allows me to truly HEAR Him. When I hear God speak, I am refreshed and renewed. But God's provision for Elijah isn't finished yet. We further read that God was about to provide even more.

God continues speaking to Elijah saying, "''Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven  thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all  whose mouths have not kissed him.'  

"So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat." 1 Kings 19:17-19a.

Elijah was silent. He let God speak (because he was silent and could finally listen). God spoke. Elijah heard and was encouraged by God's Word. Elijah was able to continue in the work God had called him to do. Because Elijah's life was itself a prayer, he was able to fully participate in God's Plan. Elijah let God's Will become his will.

God provided several things. Seven thousand men and prophets of God in Israel (Elijah thought he was the only one left). Jehu would help finish off Elijah's (God's) enemies. Elisha would come alongside Elijah as an aide and successor to Elijah.

How great is that? That's a huge amount of provision.

Now, let's be clear that there was considerable time until Jehu came on the scene, but the fact remains that God answered Elijah's prayer and provided for him. We have to keep in mind that God's perfect timing is not ours. God's answer to our prayers may be far off. He's God, I'm not.

All of that from just being silent and with God.

One thing that I didn't mention was Elijah's solitude. Although not stated, you can clearly see it. Elijah was alone. We'll tackle that aspect and discipline of prayer in Part 2.

As I look back at this passage in Scripture and over my own life, I have realized the importance of my silence so that I can hear God speak to me. Practicing regular times of purposeful silence is hard, especially in our busy world, but practice it we must. 

As I wrap up this look at Silence and Solitude, the Silence part anyway, I  have to tell you one last thing. God has blessed me with a so-called  "thorn in the flesh". And this thorn in the flesh would be considered by many to be just a pain. It's a mild physical ailment called "tinnitus";  some consider it annoying. Tinnitus is a somewhat constant, regular "ringing" or "whooshing" in the ear. I have been dealing with it for over 10  years. According to the doctor, there's not much that can be done with it. You have to live with it. And so I do. I've embraced my tinnitus. It is my friend. I have learned how to use it to help silence the world around me - although my wife thinks I use it a  bit too often - as I am able to tune it in and out.

Learn to be silent. Learn to listen to that still small voice or that whisper of God. God is gently wanting to speak to all of us who believe and want His Plan to be our lives.

Father in Heaven, help us to be silent when we are before you. Quiet my tongue, my heart, and my mind so that I may better hear what you would have me do in Your Plan. Take me away from the noise of life so that Your Word is clear. You are loving and gracious. Thank you for the blessing and gift of silence. Amen. 

Continue on to Part 2