Quieting the Noise
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
“Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” - Psalm 131: 2 (NLT)
“And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the noise! Noise! Noise! Noise!” (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss)
I greet the day with clamoring, incessant thoughts. From the moment I open my eyes, I am bombarded with swirling shouts. Though silent to others around me, the projected worries and cares forecast every worst-case scenario I can imagine. Perhaps you can relate… Like a runaway train, your racing thoughts propel you far down the tracks of anxiety, where you feel the need to grasp for control of something… anything.
My heart feels battle-weary, and my feet have yet to even hit the floor. I grab my cup of coffee and my Bible, sit in my favorite chair, and begin to ask the Lord to calm the seas raging within me.
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:22-25 (NIV).
Like the disciples in the gospel of Luke, I have a tendency to look at the wind and the waves and panic rather than rest in Him. Why is it that our fears and unwieldy thoughts can so easily overshadow that which we know to be true? Despite my anxious state, I know that the Lord holds all things in His hands. That He is working for my good and not my demise (Rom. 8:28). I know that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Yet, when the noise arises, it demands attention. Often it creeps in unnoticed, one thought enters in, then another, until the volume is turned up so loud it starts to drown out my sanity. And then I hear that still small voice whisper, “Where is your faith?”
Though convicted, I repent with gratitude. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, I wouldn’t recognize my downward spiraling thoughts. My mind was wandering towards the darkness, but He beckoned me back into the light. There, I intentionally quiet my soul. I remind myself to be still, and know He is God (Ps. 46:10). And one incessant thought at a time, I surrender each care to the One who walks on water and calms the seas. He says, “peace be still.” He can be trusted. He, and He alone, is in control of all things.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you struggle with clamoring thoughts that steal your peace? Do you feel like it is impossible to quiet your mind? If so, are you able to identify when and/or where you feel most plagued by doubts and concerns?
I have noticed I struggle the most early in the mornings, or when driving in the car. It is so easy to let my mind wander during both of these situations. Can you identify a similar pattern in your life? If so, how does recognizing how or when you are likely to fall victim to runaway thoughts help you to proactively combat them?
Take some time today to pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you when you are most vulnerable to the storms of anxious thoughts. Are there specific moments or situations that trigger such thinking? Once identified, come up with one to two proactive efforts that can help stay the winds of worry. For me, my morning time with the Lord helps quiet the noise that greets me each sunrise, and listening to worship music in the car can help combat the wandering thoughts that so easily creep in while I am driving. I encourage you to seek out your own ways to help quiet your soul.
Further Reading:
Romans 8
Isaiah 55:8-9
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Mike Powell
To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter. If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.
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