silence in chaos

“We  need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature -- trees, flowers, grass -- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

--Mother Teresa

No wonder the world seems so messed up right now. No wonder there are so many questions about God's existence. No wonder He seems silent in the midst of chaos. God does not form himself around us. How selfish we are to think that is the case (myself included). He doesn't owe us an explanation. Who are we to think He owes us anything. He is God. 

When I find myself anxious about certain things, I remember that my anxiety is often brought about by noise (whether literal or within myself). One thing I LOVE about this time of year is my desire to get outside, walking trails and enjoying Creation. 


I have always been able find rest and joy in the intricate design of the outdoors. Lately, Tye and I have been visiting the Springfield Nature Center after work to walk the trails and enjoy time together (while burning some calories). I have also taken the time to play around with my camera a bit. It is amazing what you can see when you are looking for it. 

I wonder how many opportunities to share Christ we miss because we aren't looking for them. We miss the beauty in things, because we are so afraid of the pain that might come with it. The struggle is part of the story though. If joy existed without pain, there would be no definition for it. We would not know joy. We must know pain first. 

I am writing this, because it seems like we are experiencing joy and pain at the same time right now (or at least I am). I keep telling people that I honestly don't have an opinion about whether we move or not. My heart is sad and happy about both options. How great it is that the Lord has blessed us so much that both places have a piece of our heart. 

In my early morning small group Tuesday, we were talking about phases of life. Many of the girls mentioned that it would be hard to leave Springfield because of the growing they have done here. The Lord has used this time in our lives to mold us into who we are. Friends have become family, accountability, safe places. Sometimes that growth reaches a limit though. 

We have to continue pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones. We cannot linger in one place. We cannot become stagnant. Thankfully, we have a God that knows our hearts and pushes us. 

In the meantime,  we are still working to find our place in Springfield. As of now, we are not moving. For a while, I think I was operating under the assumption that we were. I stepped away from friendships, events, etc. Since I realized that, I have begun to rebuild those things. I am so thankful. If we do stay in Springfield, I know the Lord will continue to push us out of our comfort zones for His glory. We are ready, waiting.