My parents were married on Christmas Eve in 1939; about eleven years (and a couple of sons) later, I was born. Four and a half years after that, my mother died. Christmas Eve was always special to me, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I began to understand, why, when the strains of that beloved Christmas hymn would begin playing, I would begin crying. I’d like to make all the deep connections and explain the special significance— but I can’t. There is something about a mother and her child that grips my heart, though.

Silence doesn’t come easily nowadays. With the bustle of the holidays, the exuberance of the season, the kids, the holiday movies, the shopping, and food prep … the words of the song speak of a time long ago and a scene far away. And yet, there was shouting and songs of joy—exuberance over a baby, a newborn King. An angel choir filling the sky with the sounds of joyful exaltation—a different kind of noise!

And when it isn’t the holidays, there is always something demanding our attention—appointments, grocery shopping, favorite shows to catch up on, podcasts, news reports… There is always something, whether it is the holidays or not.

I’ve never been able to handle the barrage of noise and crowds on my senses. Noisy restaurants are dismaying! But I realize that I have become immune to “silent” noise—word games on my iPad, scrolling through social media, following news reports to distraction (there was a horrific murder close by recently and it is so easy to spend too much time reading the reports of the investigation). I read to keep updated on current news but end up frustrated. The art of silence is lost in the plethora of media offerings.

Those are some of the things I do to myself, and they are not necessarily bad, but they aren’t particularly beneficial, either.

I’m vaguely suspicious that, if I am not careful, the enemy might attach thoughts and attitudes to the things I give attention to—a whisper of fear, a strand of frustration instead of faith, an inclination toward self-serving rather than serving others.

 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatian 5:13)

It’s difficult to hear God speak when I’ve got so many other sounds and voices vying for my attention. Of course, I have my quiet time with Jesus in the morning, but I know that isn’t the only time He wants my attention or to speak to me. The one thing I’ve found about spending time with the Lord is that is never seems to be quite enough. Yet life has demands and I open the door and let the day flood in, and I soon move into the busyness and distractions of the day.

In the midst of our activities, however, the Holy Spirit invites us through the Word:

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. …For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.” (Psalm 62:1, 5)

“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’ But you were unwilling…” (Isaiah 30:15)

“And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” (Isaiah 32:17)

I really want to see a change in me this year. Not a resolution, because I am decidedly bad at that sort of thing. I know that I have in the past felt the need to fill up the empty times and spaces in my life with activities and noise, whether silent or out loud. I’ve felt anxious and restless when things are too quiet, or I don’t have something always playing. I am amazed at my propensity to gravitate to entertainment when someone else is watching—even if am not the one who initiated it!

What I really want to learn (and I suspect the there are others that do, too) is to be at peace with myself and my God. One thing I am convinced of, though, is that the enemy does not want us to wait on God. That means he is going to throw up every kind of obstacle and distraction to get our attention away from the One who brings salvation and hope to the hungry. …the One who gives strength to those who wait quietly for Him and offers peace to our restless souls.