The Power of Quiet

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By: Elisa John

As an introvert, I always felt like the odd one out. Growing up, socialization was emotionally draining for me; it wasn’t until years later that I discovered I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. While I used to be confused about these experiences, learning more about myself and who I am in Christ showed me that it’s okay to take a break.

In today’s society, self-care is either demonized or idolized. We are told that self-care is selfish and a sign of weakness; On the other hand, modern-day culture emphasizes that it should be our sole source of happiness. However, I strongly believe that while self-care is a unique journey for each of us, it brings us all closer to the Father.

Jesus perfectly models what biblical self-care is. He loved others and served them with His whole heart, but He also deeply valued solitude and resting in His Father’s presence. Each moment He spent in the stillness equipped Him to serve others more effectively. Instead of relying on our limited capabilities, we can follow His example.

Honestly, it wasn’t until quarantine that I truly understood the significance of self-care. A busy schedule brimming with a variety of tasks left me feeling exhausted. Then, the pandemic forced me to take a step back and reevaluate my choices. I realized that I need to have personal alone time, or I’ll feel extremely burnt out.

Now, I try to spend a couple of hours by myself daily. I don’t stick to one particular routine or activity- I just enjoy the solitude. No matter what I do, I’ve learned to cherish the quiet as it allows me to gain a deeper understanding of God’s character. In fact, what you’re doing doesn’t have to be very spiritual in order for it to glorify God.

Spending time in nature helped me appreciate how breathtaking God’s creation is and how He perfectly designed even the most intricate details.

Exercising taught me how to honor God by valuing and viewing my body through the lens of Christ’s grace.

Writing showed me that I can creatively use my gifts and talents to share the love of Jesus with others.

As quarantine draws to a close, more and more people are returning to “the new normal.” Honestly, there’s a large part of my heart that is dreading the return of the busyness and chaos. However, what if God doesn’t want our lives to return to normal? What if the time of solitude wasn’t designed to only last a season? What if our quiet time is supposed to be what continually ignites our blazing passion for the Lord?

We were all created with distinctive personalities, so it is only natural that self-care will look different for each of us. At the end of the day, the greatest type of self-care is soul care. People tell us that self-care is all about satisfying our own worldly desires, but God teaches us that it’s actually about honoring Him by respecting our bodies and health. Resting in the Father’s presence and enjoying the beautiful gifts He gave us is a holy act of worship, if only we shift our perspectives from earthly circumstances to heavenly opportunities.

Instead of allowing the noise of the waves to drown your peace, intentionally choose to embrace the profound beauty found in the stillness.