Strength In Silence

“He will give strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak.”  Isaiah 40:29

This past week, a strong and elegant lady from the church I was first appointed as an Associate Minister took the journey to Heaven.  Dawn had fought the good fight, kept the faith, and finished the race of life here on earth.  Dawn was a strong, deeply committed, and vocal leader in the church.  Dawn and her husband, Dwight “adopted” me into their family while I served the church.

Dawn had written a letter to me before I was assigned to another church.  I have kept this letter over the past decades with my memorabilia.  I read Dawn her letter on one of my last visits.  I quote a few words from her letter – “Dwight and I have loved and enjoyed you.  We’ve basked in parental-like pride; also concern at times.  There have been so many good things to remember.  Early in the fall of 1985, I needed the counsel of a pastor.  I could not think what to do.  Then I realized that you were my pastor.  You were!  You gave me the support, reassurance and information I needed…undergirded with prayers.”

Dawn’s acceptance of me as her pastor and her love as a parent figure challenged me to grow and develop the role God gave me in life.  Her letter has been part of my foundation in ministry.  Her words strengthened me to keep sharing the gifts God has given me.  Dawn had the gift of being very direct with her words.  She was detailed and could express the process of a situation verbally and in the written word.  She was a teacher whether in the classroom, kitchen, or daily life.

Words have power.  They can encourage and build up, or they can hurt and destroy.  Emotions and feelings are connected to words.  Each day we hear and speak thousands of words and not all of them are good.  We think even more that go unspoken.  I am a writer of words in hope that the words you are currently reading will give you hope and encouragement today and help guide you on your journey of life and in your relationship with Jesus.

The Bible is filled with words – God’s Word is given to be our guide to life.  Jesus is “The Word that became flesh.” (John 1:14) When we do not know what to say, the Holy Spirit speaks through us and gives us words to share God’s message of truth. The Holy Spirit even helps us pray.  Some prayers are “sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)

Dawn’s words were silenced because of her disease.  She could no longer write or speak words of love and direction.  There was silence in her hand and her voice, but her eyes continued to speak.  In my last visits, Dawn opened her eyes when I prayed with her.  It felt like she looked deep into my soul with her eyes to connect with me, and even though she could not speak words, I heard her heart connect for a brief moment.  Dawn’s inner strength that came from her faith and love for Jesus never left her.  God continued to speak to her in the silence.

I believe God gives us His strength especially when we are tired and weak.  We become dependent on Him because we are His children and need Him to fill us and hold us close.  Sometimes this happens because of illness or loss, but it is also what God desires for all His children – to depend on His strength not our own.

The more we are aware of God’s presence with us each moment of life, the less we need to use words.  The silence becomes a hushed intimacy with the Father.  Words are not enough.  God comes to us in the silence of our hearts, and we worship Him.  There is strength in not saying what we could say.  It is knowing when not to speak what we want to and just say it to God.

Learn to be still and silence your voice and quiet your mind.  Find strength for each moment in the silence of God’s Presence.