Meeting God in The Quiet

We are living in a day and age where we are constantly busy, constantly looking at our phones, and continually being stimulated by something.

I was talking with my mom the other day and she said, “Couldn’t you just make a video instead of a newsletter?” I burst out laughing. Then she admitted, “It would just be easier to watch a video than read.”

So I said, “But Mom, you love to read.”

She paused and said, “I know. I used to. I think my attention span has gone down.” And honestly, she is not wrong.

We are digitally distracted nowadays. Our minds are rarely still. If there is a quiet moment, we fill it. If there is a pause, we scroll. We do not give our brains or our souls much of a break.

I once heard an acronym for the word BUSY. It stood for Being Under Satan’s Yoke. I heard that back when I was a freshman in high school, and it has stuck with me ever since.

Think about how often we say, “I’m just busy.” Or how easily we fill every spare moment with TikTok, Instagram, YouTube or notifications, not always with bad things, but with constant noise, constant input, constant stimulation.

Jesus understood this deeply.

In Mark chapter 6, after the disciples had been sent out to heal, teach, and perform miracles, Jesus said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

They were doing God’s work, and Jesus still called them away. Jesus Himself modeled this rhythm over and over again.

In Mark 1:35, it says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

In Luke 22, we see the same pattern. “Each evening, Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives.” Luke 22:39

And just a few verses later, He withdrew from the crowd to pray alone.

Jesus regularly chose silence and solitude, not because He had extra time but because He knew He needed it.

In the silence, we learn to be like Jesus.

So what is silence and solitude?

You can be silent without being in solitude. But solitude is choosing to be alone with God.

Silence can feel uncomfortable because it brings the unknown to the surface. When the noise fades, our thoughts get louder. We can start to feel restless, unproductive and like we are missing out.

But Scripture and history tell us that silence is not empty. It is full. It is where God shapes us, refines us and speaks to us in ways we often miss when life is loud.

A simple, practical way to start practicing silence and solitude is this.

Sit alone with God for five minutes. No phone. No music. No agenda. Just sit. Breathe. Be present.

It might feel awkward at first. That is okay. Start small. Faithfulness often begins quietly.

In a world that never stops talking, choosing silence may be one of the most spiritual things we can do.

Reflection Questions for the Week

1. Where in my life has noise crowded out stillness with God?
2. What distractions am I most tempted to reach for in moments of silence?
3. What would it look like for me to intentionally sit alone with God for five minutes this week?

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Joe Navarro, known online as @joechristianguy, is a Christian content creator, entrepreneur, and cultural voice passionate about making faith approachable and impactful for the next generation. With over 4.5 million combined followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Joe delivers bold, Gospel-centered truth through a mix of daily encouragement, short-form teachings, comedic skits, and authentic life experiences. His unique blend of theology, humor, and clarity has created space for millions of young believers and skeptics alike to engage with Scripture and real conversations about following Jesus in a digital world. In 2023, he co-created the popular card game Discernment alongside Jacob and Julia Petersen, which is now available in major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Museum of the Bible, and Mardel. He also holds a degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Sales from Texas A&M.