One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent
is that it makes us feel so helpless.
We are so accustomed to relying upon words
to manage and control others.
If we are silent who will take control?
God will take control;
but we will never let Him take control
until we trust Him.
Silence is intimately related to trust.
~Richard Foster, “The Discipline of Silence”
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
In the stillness,
Sandy
Welcome to the Still Saturday Community where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and reflect on the depth of sparse words. We’d love for you to join us. Grab the button and link up below. We all love to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to be still together, to gaze long and drink deep.
It’s been so long since I read Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline that I had forgotten this gem about silence being related to trust in God.
It just makes me want to take a deep breath…
Interesting idea…I will have to think about it, because right now, things are anything but silent. The fight I’m in is loud and vicious, and only with almost lunatic aggression can I get anywhere, physically – just getting up from a sitting position requires major Tourette Mode.
Giving voice is not a way to manage and control others now, though perhaps it once was…it’s a way to get my heart into a fight that I believe is still worth pursuing.
Praying for you, Andrew. Fight on, and make as much noise as you need to.
Yes, and it occurs to me that there are very few friends-of-the-heart with whom I am comfortable in silence. Somehow, by speaking words, we think that we are in control.
I need to listen more … 🙂
“If we are silent who will take control.”
That’s the issue, isn’t it?
Have a wonderful weekend, my beautiful friend. xoxox
Yeah… big sigh.
Love you, Patricia.
Thanks for sharing and hosting! Blessings
Tayrina
http://www.atinymixof.com
Thanks for pulling up a chair, Tayrina. I’m so glad you’re here.
I love Foster’s quote! There is an abundance of truth packed into those few words.
This spoke to me today as I have been thinking much lately about being still in His presence. Silence speaks volumes about the peace within.
Thanks for the beautiful reminder and the link-up. Happy 4th!
The idea of using words to manage and control really got to me. 🙁
Have a wonderful week, Heather.
The up-close photo of the grass is breathtaking. May we be silent enough to appreciate His beauty in the smallest details. Thanks for hosting and God bless
It’s a cornfield, Laurie. Knee-high by the 4th of July. 🙂
I hope you’ve had a beautiful weekend.
Sandra,
This poem really struck home for me. Our youngest who was adopted at almost 5 years of age, has severe reactive attachment disorder. After four years of being home with us, her trust is still only minimal. She chatters incessantly in attempts to keep people listening to her and giving her their undivided attention. It is a form of control for her that provides a feeling of safety. When she stops talking, she becomes extremely anxious, fidgeting, twitching, and biting her fingers to the point of blood. What Richard Foster described is true to the extreme degree in our little girl. I ache seeing her inability to trust.But I know that our God is bigger and can fill her soul with that trust. You have given me a new angle to pray – something more to add. If you are so inclined, I would treasure your added prayers for her!
Thank you again for hosting this beautiful link-up each week!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Oh my, Lori. That’s a powerful example of what Foster describes. Literally bleeding for attention. Yes, I will pray for your sweet daughter, that she will sense God cradling her, that she’ll know she’s the apple of His eye even in the silence. And I’ll pray for you, too, for deepened patience and compassion. Hug her for me. xo