Sunday Entries

by Addison Bevere

Separator Words with God by Addison Bevere

October 1, 2023

Can You Sit in Silence with God?

“We do not know each other yet. We have not yet dared to be silent together.”
– Maurice Maeterlinck

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to just be silent with someone you know? 

In a world where noise is currency and sanity is often traded for frantic inaction, there’s an unspoken pressure to contribute to the sound. Silence and stillness feel lazy and irresponsible, so we go on adding noise to noise, never truly understanding what we say, why we say it, and who we’re saying it to. 

“We do not know each other yet. We have not yet dared to be silent together.”

Most of us know that when a loved one is navigating profound pain or loss, our presence speaks louder than anything we could say. If we can find the courage to first sit in their silence, our words, tears, and groans find their harmony, creating an authentic sound of intimate connection. It takes no small measure of bravery, though, to let go of clichés and let silence do its best work. 

I’ve found that we often view prayer as the act of finding the right words, but the majority of our prayer life flourishes in the thin silence—that place where we can listen for the sounds of God’s constant presence . . . for how else could we pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17)? There is an active prayer that is less about speaking and more about learning to be wooed by the One who speaks in both silence and sound.

Response

When was the last time you just sat with God in silence? No words. No distractions. No noise. If we’re honest, we’ll admit that there are silent moments throughout our day, but we yield to the pressure and fill them with noise. Silence is a regular companion whose presence is often ignored. This week, ask the Spirit to show you such moments. It may feel awkward and unfamiliar at first but don’t shrink back. I promise that God will eventually meet you there.

Closing Thoughts

Stillness and silence are my surrender.
In defiant obedience I offer them to you.

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Maybe you’ve been looking for the right words—words for a season, a loved one, a situation. Could it be that you have yet to hear what God is speaking because you are lost in the noise? No matter how hard we try, some words only take shape in silence. Why not let the silence find its sound in you?

Praying with you

Addison

Separator Words with God by Addison Bevere

P.S. I spend a good amount of time in Words with God working through this dimension of prayer. In fact, the first two chapters are “The Voice” and “Into Silence.” If you struggle to hear God’s voice or embrace the silence, then click here to get your book. It’s available as a physical book, audiobook, or eBook. (And it’s also in Spanish!)

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Sunday Entries

On most Sundays, I share a few words on prayer as a way of life, words that help us open the conversation so we can see, hear, and experience more of God in our daily lives. I’d love for you to join the conversation.

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The Entries

06.11.23

“I’ve been thinking a lot about circles lately. So much of life is defined by circles—our days, week, months, and years form circles for us to move in and through. We’re constantly reminded that the end of a thing has a way of taking us back to a beginning. It would seem the cosmos announces the Circle as God’s shape of choice…”

06.04.23

“Paul once wrote, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything.” For Paul, who just happened to be in prison when he wrote these words, the most reasonable thing we can do is reject anxiety and hold fast to the Truth that God is always here…”

05.14.23

“When we try to be two places at once, we end up being nowhere, living disengaged from the presence of God, ourself, and those around us. People often ask me, “Addison, why don’t I feel God’s presence?” Without fail, the people who struggle to feel God’s presence are those who struggle to be present…”

Addison Bevere is the COO of Messenger International, a ministry founded by John and Lisa Bevere in 1990 that exists to develop uncompromising followers of Christ who transform our world. Messenger is dedicated to providing people with access to life-transforming messages regardless of their location, language, or financial position.

addison-thumbnail-2021
Addison Bevere

Husband, father, author, poet, speaker & follower of Christ

addison-thumbnail-2021
Addison Bevere

Husband, father, author, poet, speaker & follower of Christ

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