The Art of Silence

Perhaps one of the more challenging aspects of parenting is knowing when to speak into the lives of our children and when to refrain from doing so. Talking to closed ears is like pouring water on the sidewalk and not on the soil—it does no good. Or consider the coworker who when corrected is appreciative—to be silent in this occasion could be harmful. Some people when frustrated cannot hold back toxic words. Still others withhold thoughts and in quiet feed chaos. 
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Solomon wrote there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7b). Tony Evans says “We can sin not just with our words but also with our silence. Knowing when to speak and when to withhold something requires wisdom.”[1] Wisdom should not be neglected.

Meditation
Psalm 39:1-2—I said, “I will guard my ways so that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was speechless and quiet; I kept silent, even from speaking good, and my pain intensified.
 
What incident was David thinking about when he penned the above verses? Was James inspired by David’s reflections when he wrote, “Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:7,8)? 

We often violate silence, compelled to champion our hurts and trumpet our needs. Rather than seek God’s solution, we rely on tongue-poisoned bullets. Yet we can also misuse silence through our muted indifference. Abraham Lincoln said, “To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards out of men.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter . . . In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”

Jeanne Guyon taught, “Here is how to begin to acquire this habit of silence. First of all, forget yourself.  That is, lay aside all self-interest.  Secondly, listen attentively to God. [2]  The art of silence, like all other arts, is best developed by listening to the Holy Spirit. He is our sufficient Counselor. He will lead us into quiet and lead us into conversation. The fruit of virtuous silence is healing, affirmation, reflection, and peace.
 
Inspiration
“You see, there are two kinds of people who keep silent.  The first is one who has nothing to say, and the other is one who has too much to say . . . Silence is produced from excess, not from lack."—Jeanne Guyon in Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ
 
©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 


[1] The Tony Evans Study Bible, 2019. Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Jeanne Guyon in Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ
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