Finding Peace in Silence

Reconnecting to God in the Quiet

It’s funny how much noise we have in our lives, even when we’re not actively making it. The constant buzz of notifications, the low hum of a busy mind, the pressure to always be doing something, anything.

*Van Morrison is currently playing in the background.

It’s easy to get caught up in it all, thinking that the next task, the next conversation, the next event is the one that’s going to bring peace or clarity.

But sometimes, the only thing we need is quiet.

For the past couple of months, I’ve been in a season of quiet. The first part of it was a personal retreat. A week unplugged. Time spent away, disconnected from the usual rhythms and tasks (not on the couch with Netflix as some assumed). It was exactly what I needed, but it wasn’t without its challenges. The second part was a long drive to and from London, Ontario, for General Synod, which also gave me the space I didn’t realize I needed.

It’s funny how much time and space we can overlook until we finally permit ourselves to sit with it. I didn’t expect the quiet of the drive to be as transformative as it was. There was something about the endless road ahead and the long stretches of solitude that gave me room to breathe, think, and hear things I’d been missing.

Silence is uncomfortable at first. When you’re used to a constant stream of noise, whether it’s social media, work, or just life in general, the quiet feels off. It’s not that it’s bad; it’s just unfamiliar. And I felt that at the start of my retreat. I didn’t know what to do with myself. A friendly voice/memory came to mind. “Just do what you can, Shawn.” Ruth’s voice echoed in my mind. She was a spiritual mother to me, and we could make each other laugh! She introduced me to Ignatian spiritual practices and silent retreats.

I think what struck me most was how often we miss the opportunity to hear and notice because I’m so caught up in the noise or distraction. When I allowed myself to sit in the quiet, I noticed things I hadn’t before. It wasn’t a loud, dramatic moment, but a quiet, subtle sense of “peace” that came over me, especially on those long stretches of road when I wasn’t thinking about anything at all.

For years, I was conditioned to think God can only show up in big, obvious ways. At conferences, during intense prayer sessions, in moments of crisis. The Spirit is there in the stillness, in the quiet. When we stop striving, when we stop doing, and just be.

It’s in the quiet moments that we find our rhythm again. We reconnect with ourselves, with the Creator, and with the things that matter most. When everything slows down, we finally get the space to hear what we’ve been missing, to reflect, and to recalibrate.

Looking back on both the retreat and my drive, I see now how much I needed that time of quiet, more than I realized at the time. It wasn’t just about getting away; it was about making space to hear, to reflect, to be still. It’s not always easy to embrace silence, especially when the world tells us to keep moving. But there’s a peace that comes with stepping away from all that, even if it’s just for a while.

This is where I’ve been “finding” God. Not in the noise, not in the rush, but in the moments of quiet when I allow myself to just be. We can find space in the small moments, in the time we choose to unplug, to breathe, and to listen.

So, if you’re still out on this limb with me: next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or lost in the noise, try embracing the quiet. Let go of the pressure always to be doing. Because it’s in those moments of stillness that we might find what our soul is thirsting for.

Photo by David Valentine on Unsplash