Solitude & Silenceનમૂનો

Have you ever experienced true silence? A moment where there wasn’t a single sound?

When I lived in Mumbai, it was never quiet. There was always a fan whirring, the AC rumbling, cars honking in the distance, street dogs barking–you name it, noise was constant. When I’d visit quieter places, such as smaller towns or my home country, the absence of sound made my ears buzz. I could hear the silence.👂🏼

Strange, right? 🤪

Our spiritual ears can buzz, too. We get so addicted to noise that we crave it, constantly seeking things to occupy our minds–endless scrolling through social media, mindless binge-watching shows, or always surrounding ourselves with people to avoid being alone.

Starting to practice solitude and silence can feel uncomfortable, like a buzzing in your soul. When you are silent, your thoughts get louder because they are no longer drowned out by the noise around you. It can be a bit scary, too; could those feelings that you’ve worked so hard to avoid surface and overwhelm you?

“Be still, and know that I am God” – Psalms 46:10

Friend, practicing solitude and silence is an act of trust. Be silent and trust that the knowing will come. Make yourself available and wait for God; there is nothing you can do to control the outcome, no words or actions that will force His response, just offering yourself as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

“The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Let’s continue practicing:

1. Settle into a comfortable yet alert position. For example, sit down with open hands, but don’t lie down and risk falling asleep.
2. Eliminate distractions. Turn off your phone, music, etc.
3. Set a modest goal—it is harder than you think! Set a 10 or 15-minute timer to start.
4. Ask God to give you a simple prayer phrase, for example, “Here I am”. Repeat that sentence to refocus on God when your mind wanders.
5. Close with the Lord’s prayer and resist judging your time by how much you felt or experienced.

Hey! You are a Chamatkar.

Jenny Mendes