Embracing the Silence: Understanding the Power of Pruning in Our Lives

My family home is situated in a small town on a main street, close to a railway station. We became accustomed to the constant noise of cars and occasional trains passing by, to the point where we wouldn't even notice the sounds until guests stayed over and mentioned the noise that kept them awake. Recently, I had a similar experience that made me reflect on how many things people "tune out" to better handle the overload of information or emotions in their daily lives. 

For years, I’ve ignored the distractions of social media, news, and daily gossip. However, lately, I find myself unable to ignore the noise from the family living above my apartment. It’s 1 AM as I write today’s blog post, and I can’t sleep due to the constant sobbing of my neighbor’s elderly mother, which has been going on day and night for over a week. After silently praying for this sobbing elderly woman, I am asking God: “Lord, what are you teaching me through this struggle?” 

After more than a week of repeatedly asking the same question without receiving an answer, it finally hits me. I am reminded of all the "internal noise" from processing recent events and challenges. Amidst this noise, I overlooked an invitation to find silence by reflecting on Ecclesiastes chapter 3. 

The wisdom found in the book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that every action has its own designated time, including moments of silence: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-…A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.” - Ecclesiastes 3:3 and 7

The Semitic word chashah found in the Book of Ecclesiastes denotes a reflective and introspective silence. It describes the silence of someone who refrains from responding to another, despite having a reply.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit uses overwhelming noise, both external and internal, to demonstrate that silence is a language the Father occasionally uses in response to the clamor of daily life. This teaches His children to ignore the noise and wisely refrain from reacting to it. In these moments, silence communicates more powerfully than words.

If you've recently experienced information overload, with excessive noise disrupting your sleep at night and leaving you exhausted during the day, now is an ideal moment to be silent before the Lord, as the Father speaks in silence. 

Currently, you are encouraged to enter a space of thoughtful and introspective silence, observing what the Father is pruning and removing from your life. Pruning periods are intended to establish conditions for something fresh and lasting. 

In these moments, it's wise to delay responding to conflicting voices until the appropriate time for sewing and expressing oneself arrives.

“I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.” - Psalm 131:2