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The Beauty and Benefits of Silent, Deep Work

Before some of the great heroes of our faith became acknowledged as such, there was always some silent process that took place in the background. 

Before David became known for defeating Goliath and becoming king, he’d been slaying and wrestling with lions and bears as a shepherd boy, faithful in his position to protect his sheep unaccompanied by any onlooking audience or applause (1 Samuel 17:32-37). 

Before Moses became the man who helped lead a nation to freedom through miracles, signs, and wonders, he settled silently in the land of Midian for 40 years, as a shepherd leading a flock of sheep, where the Lord began to transform him from the inside out, beginning with His first miracle of the burning bush. 

Before Saul became Paul, the man who wrote much of the New Testament, he spent time growing in his ministry in Syria and Cilicia remaining “personally unknown to the Judean churches in Christ” before going up to Jerusalem 14 years later (Galatians 1:13-2:3). 

We could go on and on through biblical accounts of the hidden processes that took place among mighty men and women of faith that shaped them into who they were as we know them today. The point is that there is something to be said about the value and benefits of silent, deep work both in the spiritual and in the physical. 

Being raised in a fast-paced society where everything is racing and presented to us on demand has taken a toll on our general character of patience. We are losing the beauty of stillness, being in the moment and allowing the growth process to fully take root in our lives. Don’t get me wrong, patience has always been a human issue- not just a millennial issue. It took no time for the Israelites to build a golden calf upon waiting for Moses, though they had just seen God’s power in full action across the Red Sea.

We’re talking about the discipline of weighing shallow, temporary glories, for what ultimately sustains us in the end. And many times, we endure that process by not forgetting the long-term value of what we’re fighting for.

This ties into a concept I’ve appreciated more and more lately called deep work. According to author Cal Newport, deep work is:

“the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task...Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship...And yet, most people have lost the ability to go deep—spending their days instead in a frantic blur of e-mail and social media, not even realizing there’s a better way.”

Deep work is all about committing to the silent, undistracted process of focusing on building something of substance. Whether it be committing to healing and recovery, growing in a career or skill, writing a book, starting a business or ministry, in order to produce something truly sustaining in our lives we have to be willing to give ourselves over to hidden moments or seasons of deep work. Ourselves, along with those we serve, will be much better for it. 

In every season it is God’s goal that we are matured and equipped for the next. So instead of us sitting around in bitterness or comparison about where we are, how are we deeply preparing for where we’re going? Use this time to grow, to mature and to make the most out of what God has in front of you now.

Pause & reflect:

• How would you define deep work in your own words?
• What areas in your life need some deep work right now?
• What are some distractions you may need to put boundaries on either daily or overall in order to commit to that deep work?
• What is the long-term goal you have for this deep work?