Weekly Devotional - Raquel Simmons

A three syllable world that will send shivers down an extroverts spine, but for me, an introvert, it’s music to my ears. As someone who not only wants, but needs time away from all the overstimulating things of the world, silence and solitude is something that has come naturally to me. Often times I will drive in my car with no music, just silence and my thoughts. And don’t be surprised if you drive by and see me laying on a blanket under the trees in my front yard just staring at the sky. I promise I’m okay. Yes, I actually have been circled by vultures before because of my extreme stillness, but I’m still here and alive to talk about it.

I do realize that silence and solitude are difficult to achieve with the world we live in. We receive hundreds of notifications throughout the day; texts, emails, voicemails, endless spam calls (how do they even get our numbers?!) and we can’t forget the people in our lives who need our attention, our co-workers, spouses, and children. It can feel impossible to “find time” for this practice of solitude. I will admit, it can be difficult to do, but there are a couple things that have helped me.

First, I’ve had to remind myself that the world around me can and will go on just fine if I step away for a moment. I’ve had to let go of wanting constant control and trust that everything will be okay, even if I don’t have my hands on it or in it. Second, I need to be intentional with choosing a specific time to set aside as quiet time. When it’s already set in place, then it ends up becoming something to look forward to rather than it being something we forget to do and put off for another week, month, or year.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” Psalms 37:7. Now, it’s not a guarantee that every time we sit in solitude with the Lord that he will give us solutions to all our problems. However, in my experience, each time after I’ve sat in silence with him, I end up leaving that time feeling more loved, more grateful, and more at peace than when I went into it. And a majority of the time, that ends up being exactly what I needed anyways!

If silence and solitude is a new practice for you, start small. Find a quiet place you enjoy (in a hammock, in your car, in your yard, on the beach, etc). Then, set a timer on your phone for 10 minutes, put it on do not disturb, and place it out of reach. Then the next time, increase it to 20 minutes and so on. The more you practice, the more natural it will become. I promise you that silence and solitude will add more peace and more joy to your life because it will refocus your soul on what really matters. You will love people better and experience more of the fullness of life simply because you will be more present in your relationships and will become more aware of all the blessings around you. Give it a try; you’ve got this! Let me know how it goes! :)

Raquel