“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honoured by every nation. I will be honoured throughout the world.” ~ Psalm 46:10 NLT
WE ARE used to fighting and standing for freedom of speech. How about the other side – freedom of silence? This statement is not originally mine, I got this from a girl in YouTube shared by my wife. The girl’s name is Akianna. She paints and she is gifted with words. Her words “freedom of silence” struck me deep! Between freedom of speech and freedom of silence, it looks like speech is more potent than silence? Frankly, it’s should never be the question of who is the winner or loser. It’s a venue for spiritual discernment meaning which of the two freedoms glorifies God the most, expresses grace the most, enrich communion with God the most, and giving more passage to reflect than just to vent out, given this time of worldwide pandemonium.
This is not to measure the maturity of anyone or a test of courage or spirituality, they are a venue to respect those who act on them as convicted by the exercise of spiritual discernment. My personality test described me as a “defender” meaning passionate and impulsive in many ways, even in my prayers to Abba this passion inside is blazing.
In times like these, the freedom of silence may be wise. The reminder from Psalm 46:10 is timeless, in the NASB version of it says “Cease striving and know that I am God”, as I am writing this article I am inclined to expound the text for any clarifications and to avoid misunderstanding of the text, my hermeneutics is needed. Hmmm, even this tendency must be silenced. Freedom of silence exposes my captivity to power and my addiction to being heard and my inability to LISTEN.
It is needful nowadays when social media is overflowing with much information leading to various kinds of influence on others, without the value of responding in the silence that God meant to be. Be still that we may know He is God, who can handle the silence of God? Who can tame the voice of guilt? Or who can purely enjoy grace without apology? Covid-19 gives us the venue to choose which freedom to use, of speech or of silence? For many, it’s time to speak especially if what you will say will be for the good of many. For some, it’s time to be quiet, and ask the hard questions that the busy life has denied. The bottom line of this is the discernment from God will help make a choice basing on the standard which one would lead to knowing God more.
Maybe it’s time to try this freedom of silence in times like these. Don’t underestimate a God stilled heart, it’s in that venue that ego is killed and God’s voice is clear. Obscurity becomes a dangerous passion, and the language of grace is fluently spoken. Ssssssh.