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“Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;
Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word.”

—T.S. Eliot

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Let Silence Find Its Sound

When was the last time you really heard silence? Not just the absence of noise, but the kind of stillness that makes you aware of your own heartbeat—the kind that slows your breathing and quiets the rush in your head?

For most of us, silence feels foreign. We live with constant notifications, endless words, and a soundtrack of busyness.

I often hear people say they can’t hear God’s voice. “Why won’t God talk to me?” they ask. But here’s the thing—God doesn’t have a talking problem; we have a listening problem. Prayer is less about getting our words out and more about tuning our ears in.

Jesus says, “He who has ears, let him hear.” James reminds us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. And the psalmist calls us to be still and know that God is God.

Mother Teresa once said that in prayer, she listens. When asked what God says, she replied, “He listens too.”

The Power of Silence

I was reminded of the power of silence recently at an airport. I was in TSA, about to put my bags through the CT scanner, when everything came to a stop. Two full minutes of complete silence to honor lives lost in a tragedy. In that pause, the entire terminal seemed to reset. The usual tension melted away as we all stood in the same quiet together.

That’s what silence does. It recalibrates us. It allows us to hear what we normally miss. It opens space for God’s whisper to break through the noise.

Learning to Hear God in the Quiet

Out of that longing to listen well, I’ve crafted a 40-day prayer journal—a journey into the quiet places where words meet the Word. It releases November 18, and I can’t wait for you to have a daily guide you can hold. If it resonates with you, I’d be so grateful if you preordered a copy—from Amazon or wherever you like to get your books. (Those early orders help the journal reach more people who might need it.)

Respond

This week, let silence find its sound. Step away from the constant noise—the phone, the inbox, the feed—and sit with God. Let Him speak. There you will find the words that only form in silence.

Closing Thoughts

Father, thank You for speaking in the stillness.
Teach me to listen,
to quiet my soul,
to find Your voice in the silence.
Reset my heart,
reorient my thoughts,
and let Your presence calm the noise within me.
Amen.

Praying with you,

Addison