“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10.
I’ve thought quite a bit about the above verse in the past couple of weeks. Realizing that this time of quiet isn’t a time of panic or frenzy, but it’s a great time to listen to the sound of silence. Even more, when we truly allow ourselves to be still and know that God is with us, we find that the silence isn’t all that silent. In the silence we begin to hear that still small voice of calm, understanding, comfort, and love. God is speaking to us, we just need to be still, listen, and know.
Today’s encouraging word comes from David Petty, who reminds me (and us) that there was someone else in Bible who had a forced time of silence. Please read his words below.
Dear Sam -- You will recall that in the first chapter of Luke, Zechariah, after his vision, endures a quiet time, a period of enforced silence. It must have been a difficult time for him. Perhaps he had some work that he could do despite his disability. Perhaps he had some carpentry skills and he was able to make a crib and some wooden toys. But I'm sure it was a frustrating time and he was sustained only by his faith. And then the great day came and he "found his voice" and raised it in song.
So now we are in period of enforced silence (more or less) for the Holston Conference, for St. Mark, and for you. I know it must be a difficult time for you. There are so many hopes and dreams for St. Mark. You're probably at least as frustrated as Zechariah was.
But take heart. Great days are coming. We'll find our voice again and raise it in song. We'll do most of those things that we planned, and greater things too. We will probably be so busy that we will look back on these quiet days with some fondness. – Dave Petty
May God bless us in our times of silence, until we can sing the great song of praise when we gather together again at St. Mark.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Sam