Waiting in Silence

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken."-- Psalm 62:5,6.

In his article, The Why and How of Silence in Worship, Rev. Paul Borgman shares that we live in a loud and chaotic world. “Life in the world today proves that we need silence,” he says. He shares that there is a human need for this silence. This is something I feel I have been learning myself over the years. I remember a time visiting a member in the hospital then learning of this hospitals campaign for “quiet.” “H.U.S.H” was the term being used there, each letter having meaning; H.U.S.H; “hospitals use silence to heal.” It seems hospitals know something Christians might learn from! Silence is not only golden; it is necessary in order to heal.

As we gather for worship we pause the busy world for a while. We listen, reflect, sing and so share in a bit of heaven on earth! We draw near to God as he is drawing us near! The Lutheran Service Book suggests moments of silence at times during the Service. At St. John we make use of times of silence, firstly as we gather before the Service begins. Our weekly bulletins begin with this call to worship: “As we gather for this service let us take time to lay aside our thoughts of other things as we prayerfully prepare for the worship of our Lord.” We pause before the Confession of Sins. Our own unworthiness before our God is certainly one reason to remain in reverent silence. There is also a silence of expectation in worship. A devotional silence may be held before receiving the Sacrament. Quiet thanksgiving might be offered after receiving the Lord’s body and blood. We then pause a moment at the conclusion of the Service preparing to head back to our world.

God’s word is at work in these silent moments during the Divine Service becoming an avenue for his healing, restorative work. Even Jesus often sought out a lonely place to pray. I have shared this before. In any piece of music there are rests. So, there is silence amidst the sound. It has been said there is no music in the rest, but there is the making of music in it! In other words, we need those times to pause in the midst of our prayers. The preacher in Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything, even a time for silence!

As we gather in the Service, we find that time to refocus, finding the healing our souls are so in need of. In this hospital for the spiritually sick God’s people have need for this pause that we might learn to hear the still small voice of our God! As the psalmist says, for God alone let us wait in silence!

Pastor