Early in the morning, we always hear the sound of cars right outside our window as they speed by our house. But today, the only thing I hear is the sound of complete silence. The storm has passed, and everything is still as I sit on my porch swing. I’m listening to the stillness and thinking about a conversation with a friend who is struggling with fear. She told me the stillness makes her mind wander, and she ends up envisioning scenarios that cause her to be anxious. All the “what ifs” begin, and her focus blurs. “It’s paralyzing,” she told me.
In the stillness, what we focus on is so important. Often, we struggle in that stillness because it brings up all the fears we push down during our frantic attempts to stay busy. Most days, I feel like I’m running at full speed, hurried and harried. I’m still learning lessons about how important it is to stop and soak in the quiet. There is so much to hear in that place of stillness. A few mornings ago, I sat on my favorite porch swing hours, trying to rest from all the thoughts whirling in my head. I forced myself to sit 
long enough to focus on what God wanted me to hear instead of what my brain wanted me to hear. I took the focus off my fears, the self-talk, and the noise inside my head and just listened. The comfort that came during that time of stillness brought a sense of peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) I remember thinking, How have I not heard these things before? And the answer was obvious: Because I didn’t stop long enough to listen!
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” I thought I understood what it meant to be still, but the season of pandemic and post-pandemic redefined the words “stop” and “stillness”. The new normal after the pandemic involves quieter moments and listening.
If the noise and fear are overwhelming and you feel out of control, I encourage you to stop and sit in the stillness. Listen. Re-focus. God has a lot to say that will comfort you in anxious moments. Sitting in the quiet will bring you strength. Wherever you are in life, focus on the Savior, not the storm. Let your soul rest. He has you, and He won’t let go.