Quietly hold back

I admire how people stop to think before they respond. In the space of quietness you can see them weighing what they will say, or deciding if speaking any words at all is warranted. Our 44th president of the United States, President Barack Obama has mastered this art of silence. His pauses are priceless. We witnessed the art of pausing and self-control, before speaking in Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson as she reflected before answering certain questions during her Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Silence can be an indicator that we are listening, waiting, and resisting the compulsion to fill a void with unnecessary words. 

Scripture reveals that silence conveys wisdom and intelligence:

“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” (Psalm 17:28)

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back” (Psalm 29:11). 

Silence is also an example of restraint. “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)

Then there’s the issue of self control:

          “Think how much more in control you'd not only appear but actually 
          be if your first response upon hearing or seeing something that sparks 
          a strong reaction in you wasn't to lash out emotionally but instead to
          become—silent.” (Dr. Alex Lickerman)

The whole idea of silence may seem foreign in an era of cell phones, text messages, emails, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Throughout the day these platforms scream at us for a response. Yet, I don’t know about you but my soul cries out for silence, to sit before God, listen and wait. 

GiGi❤️

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