The Inner Life: Finding Silence — The Power of Unplugging to Connect with God

In a world of constant notifications, background noise, and never-ending scroll, silence feels unnatural—even intimidating. Yet silence is one of the most essential languages of apprenticeship to Jesus.

It’s not an escape from life but an entrance into presence. When we unplug, we aren’t withdrawing from reality; we’re tuning in to a deeper one—the steady heartbeat of God’s love that’s always been there, waiting to be noticed.

The Principle: Why This Changes Everything

Silence as presence:

Silence isn’t the absence of sound but the awareness of Someone. It’s the place where the Spirit begins to reorder what noise has scattered.

Silence as surrender, not strategy:

We don’t enter quiet to earn peace; we enter it to receive it. In silence, we let go of control—of words, results, and performance—and rest in the God who already holds it all.

Silence as restoration:

Just as our bodies need rest to heal, our souls need stillness to listen. In quiet spaces, God often speaks most clearly—not through new information, but through renewed intimacy.

A Journey: From Avoiding Quiet to Longing for It

For years, a friend filled every silence with something—music, podcasts, even good sermons. Thinking it would help to “stay spiritually sharp,” but underneath was fear:

fear of what they might feel or face if they stopped filling the gaps.

Then, during a retreat, a mentor suggested ten minutes of total quiet. The first few minutes were agony—no words, no soundtrack, just a self and their restless thoughts – like squirrels chasing each other around a tree. But as the noise inside began to settle, a strange peace took its place.

Silence didn’t solve my problems, but it changed how they carried them. It became a space where they could stop striving and start listening. Over time, they’d found that silence doesn’t empty life—it fills it.

Making It Fit: Silence for Your Real Life

These are small, approachable ways to begin:

Busy life (work, family, caregiving)

Try a 3-minute pause between tasks. Turn off screens, breathe slowly, and simply whisper, “Here I am, Lord.”

Introvert-friendly

Start your morning in stillness before checking your phone. Sit with an open posture and one simple prayer: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

Family rhythm

Have a “quiet minute” before meals or bedtime. Light a candle, take one deep breath together, and let the silence remind everyone that peace is possible.

Overwhelmed or exhausted

Lay down or sit in stillness. Don’t force thoughts away. Imagine placing your worries in God’s hands, one at a time.

Long-term, low-pressure

Choose one block of “tech-free” time each week—a drive, a walk, or morning coffee—and dedicate it as sacred silence.

Questions for Reflection

• What emotions arise when you think about silence—rest, fear, boredom, resistance?
• When have you experienced peace through stillness, even briefly?
• How might silence become a place of renewal rather than emptiness this week?

Next In This Series

Next up: Putting It Together — A Simple Framework for Your Daily Quiet Time.

We’ll gather the threads of prayer, Scripture, and silence into one gentle, sustainable rhythm you can grow into, not just schedule.