Be Still: Discovering God in the Silence Imagine waking up, grabbing your phone, scrolling through notifications, emails, and news, all before you’ve even had your coffee. The noise is instant, isn’t it? We live in a world that never seems to quiet down. But what if all this noise is exactly what’s keeping us from hearing God’s voice?
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Notice, it doesn’t say, “Be busy and know that I am God” or “Figure it all out on your own.” God calls us to be still—not because He’s hard to hear but because stillness draws us near.
Today, we’ll dive into what it means to quiet our souls and why it’s so powerful. We’ll look at how God often speaks in whispers, how Jesus Himself made time for silence, and why learning to be still opens us to God’s peace, wisdom, and presence. Let’s discover how, in a noisy world, the greatest connection we can make begins in quietness with God.
Kingdom Way Church – https://KingdomWay.ca is our church in Edmonton, Alberta. Watch us live at https://KWay.live Sundays at 10:00 AM Mountain time. Watch Video on Demand at https://Kway.tv Connect and learn more at https://MyKWC.ca
Notes from Be Still: Discovering God in the Silence
I. Introduction: The Need for Stillness
Imagine waking up, grabbing your phone, scrolling through notifications, emails, and news, all before you’ve even had your coffee. The noise is instant, isn’t it? We live in a world that never seems to quiet down.
Psalm 46:10 NASB95
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
It doesn’t say “Be busy and know that I am God” or “Figure it all out on your own.” God calls us to be still—not because He’s hard to hear but because stillness draws us near.
Today, we’ll dive into what it means to quiet our souls and why it’s so powerful. We’ll look at how God often speaks in whispers, how Jesus Himself made time for silence, and why learning to be still opens us to God’s peace, wisdom, and presence.
Let’s discover how, in a noisy world, the greatest connection we can make begins in quietness with God.
Illustration:
Timmy and Sarah were lounging on the couch, each absorbed in their own world—Timmy was racing cars in his favorite video game, and Sarah was watching her favorite TV show. The room was filled with sounds of engines revving and characters talking, and they were too focused even to notice their parents walk in.
Their dad cleared his throat. “Hey, you two! We’re going on a nature walk as a family. Time to turn those screens off.”
Timmy groaned, still focused on the game. “But Dad, I just got to level three! Can’t we go later?”
Sarah sighed. “Yeah, and it’s hot outside. Can’t we just stay in and watch TV?”
Their mom shook her head, smiling. “Nope, this is important. Today we’re going to try something special on our walk: practicing being quiet so we can hear God’s voice in His creation.”
They both looked skeptical but finally turned off their screens and trudged outside. They didn’t understand why they had to give up their favorite activities to go on a quiet walk. But little did they know, this walk would open their eyes to a whole new way of experiencing God’s presence.
Once in the woods, their dad led them to a small clearing by a stream and had them sit on a decaying fallen log. Their dad whispered, “I want you both to sit still, close your eyes, and listen. Notice every little sound.”
Timmy squirmed but tried to sit still. At first, he heard his own breathing. Then, he noticed the water softly bubbling over rocks, a gentle breeze, and birds chirping nearby. The longer he sat, the calmer he felt.
After a while, Timmy whispered, “I feel peaceful, like God’s right here.”
Their dad nodded. “That’s the beauty of quiet. Sometimes, to feel close to God, we have to slow down and listen, not with our ears but with our hearts.”
As they walked back, Timmy and Sarah agreed: being quiet had helped them feel closer to God.
Purpose:
Stillness is essential for a deep relationship with God.
Transition:
God’s invitation to “be still” is a call to quiet our minds, hearts, and surroundings so we can truly know Him.
This message is for me; I hope it serves you as well. I have to admit I have felt overwhelmed lately with everything on my plate. I know some of you are thinking a pastor only preaches; what does he do with all the rest of his time? If you only knew!
Doing all the financial and administrative work, the repairs & maintenance for the building, upgrading the sound system and video broadcast system, computer systems, phone system; being the liaison with the different groups that rent our space; preaching, counseling, meeting with people; scheduling all volunteers in our church; not to mention running Kingdom Way Equipper Network (KWEN) and building Kingdom Way Equippers Network Training Academy (KWENTA); developing a music production organization.
Now don’t get me wrong; I am not complaining. I love doing these things to serve the body of Christ, but I know my busyness has caused me to miss some things, and maybe I’ve fallen short of your expectations—and for that I’m sorry.
I have this theory: God takes you home when you’ve done everything He’s asked you to do. At this rate, I’ll live till I’m 120…
What I’ve learned a few times now is that no matter how many hours I work, I will never do everything I want to do. Did you catch that? “What I want to do!”
God has never called us to be busy.
We have verses like Psalm 46:10 that we read earlier.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 NASB95
6 One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.Luke 10:41–42 NASB95
41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”Mark 6:31 NASB95
31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
Busyness is not from God. In fact, the opposite is true.
Yes, God does not want us to be lazy and unproductive, but the opposite—being too busy—is also outside His will.
It is right for us to incorporate rest and stillness into our everyday lives.
The Sabbath
This is evident by the Lord mandating the Sabbath—a day of rest. What is the Sabbath? Taking one day off every week to worship and quiet yourself before God. For the Jewish people, it began at sundown on Friday and lasted till sundown on Saturday. You could do no work. In the OT, you could be put to death for working on the Sabbath. The exception to this was the Levites and priests; they performed duties on the Sabbath as part of their service in the temple. While most Israelites were commanded to rest and cease regular work on the Sabbath, the Levites’ responsibilities were unique because their work was directly tied to worship and the temple, which required specific actions even on days of rest.
Jesus recognized this fact in Matthew 12:5 NASB95
5 “Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?”
The priests’ & Levites’ Sabbath work was not seen as violating the Sabbath because it was dedicated to God’s worship. Their work allowed the community to draw closer to God, aligning with the Sabbath’s ultimate purpose—rest in God and renewal in worship. This principle highlights the sacred nature of their role and the idea that true Sabbath observance focuses on honoring and drawing near to God.
But in our modern church era, we hold busyness as a virtue. It’s like a badge of honor when you tell people you’re busy.
How many of you remember when stores were closed on Sunday? It was a sacred day set apart for the Church. In fact, it used to be law in Canada that retailers could not open on Sunday. On April 24, 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the Lord’s Day Act allowing stores to open on Sunday. The Lord’s Day Act of 1906.
Today many self-professed Christians have a hard time carving two hours out of their schedule for Sunday morning. And we wonder why the church has been on steady decline since the ’80s in Canada.
The issue with this is that busyness robs us of intimacy with God and intimacy with each other.
Incidentally, in case you’re wondering…today we gather together on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) as the early church did in recognition of the day of the week Jesus rose from the grave; but the principle of the Sabbath still holds true for us today.
Jesus’ Perspective on the Sabbath
Jesus’ perspective on the Sabbath reflects both His respect for its original purpose and His insight into its deeper spiritual meaning. Rather than viewing it as a burdensome rule, Jesus taught that the Sabbath was a gift from God meant for rest, renewal, and connecting with Him and each other.
Let’s look at five aspects of Jesus’ view of the Sabbath:
- Sabbath as a Gift, Not a Burden
Mark 2:27 NASB95
27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”
This emphasizes that God created the Sabbath to benefit people, giving them a day to rest from labor and focus on spiritual and relational renewal. Jesus wanted people to see the Sabbath as a blessing, not as a legalistic requirement.
- Doing Good on the Sabbath
Jesus often healed and helped people on the Sabbath, showing that acts of compassion and mercy align with God’s heart. When criticized, He responded like in Matthew 12:12 NASB95
12 “How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
For Jesus, the Sabbath was a day to extend God’s love, focusing on people’s needs rather than strict rule-bound interpretations.
- Reclaiming the Sabbath’s Spiritual Purpose
Jesus wanted to shift the focus of the Sabbath back to God. Matthew 12:6 NASB95
6 “But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.”
Jesus pointed people to Himself as the true source of rest and salvation, helping them understand that honoring God goes beyond ritual—it’s about relationship.
- Rest in Christ
Jesus invites people to find their ultimate rest in Him as seen in Matthew 11:28–30 NASB95
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
He fulfills the Sabbath by offering rest for the soul—something that physical rest alone can’t provide.
- Freedom and Restoration
Through His actions and teachings, Jesus revealed that the Sabbath is about liberation from burdens—reflecting God’s desire for freedom and restoration. Luke 13:10–17 NASB95
10 And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
11 And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double and could not straighten up at all.
12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.”
13 And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God.
14 But the synagogue official indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed—not on the Sabbath day.”
15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him?
16 “And this woman—a daughter of Abraham as she is—whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years; should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?”
17 As He said this all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.
Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath who had been bound by illness for eighteen years. He called her healing a form of “setting free,” linking the Sabbath with God’s power to restore. Jesus taught that the Sabbath points to a deeper spiritual truth—the rest, freedom, and renewal found in God. His perspective encourages us to use the Sabbath as a time to experience God’s presence, refresh our spirit, and extend His love to others.
Jesus did not erase the Sabbath; rather He fulfilled it. We find our rest in Him; and in order to do that we need to regularly focus on stillness and quiet ourselves before Him.
II. Biblical Examples of Stillness
Moses at the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-5): A moment of solitude that led to divine encounter.
Jesus Going to Desolate Places to Pray (Luke 5:16): Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to commune with the Father.
Elijah’s Encounter with God in the Whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13): God’s voice wasn’t in the wind or earthquake or fire but in the gentle whisper.
III. Why Quieting Ourselves is Essential
To Hear God’s Voice Clearly: The noise around us often drowns out God’s whisper.
John 10:27 NASB95
27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
To Find Inner Peace and Clarity: Silence allows us to release anxieties and center on God’s presence.
Philippians 4:6–7 NASB95
6 Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
To Deepen Trust in God’s Sovereignty: In stillness we surrender our control and recognize God’s omnipotence and care.
IV. Practical Ways to Quiet Yourself Before God
Daily Devotional Time: Set aside time each day for uninterrupted prayer and Bible reading.
Remove distractions: Finding a peaceful location free of distractions allows God’s presence to fill the space.
Meditation: Slowly meditating on passages like Psalm 46:10 or Philippians 4:6-7.
Journal Reflections: Reflect on what God is showing you in moments of silence.
V. Overcoming Challenges in Quieting Ourselves
Internal Distractions: Worry; anxious thoughts; to-do lists.
Solution: Offer these distractions to God; praying through them as they arise.
External Distractions: Devices; notifications; noise from surroundings.
Solution: Turn off electronic devices; create a designated quiet place for prayer.
Spiritual Warfare: Recognize that the enemy often distracts us from quieting ourselves before God.
Solution: Pray for God’s protection and authority over these distractions.
VI. Application: Taking the First Step to Quiet
Challenge: Commit to a daily 5-10 minute practice of quieting themselves before God.
Encourage Group Discussion: Share experiences of how God has spoken or brought peace during quiet times.
Prayer: Close with a prayer for peace; surrender; and a deeper awareness of God’s presence.
VII. Conclusion
Recap: Quietness before God is a posture of trust and surrender—allowing us to truly experience His presence.
Final Thought: Quieting ourselves isn’t about silence for its own sake but about preparing to hear and know God more intimately.
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