And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31
I stepped into the place where my pup gets groomed and was met with noise so loud that I had to yell in order for the person right in front of me to hear what I was saying. The pup does not enjoy an environment where chaos is reigning, and this was not what he considered fun.
I knew his thoughts the moment I let him out of the car and we heard all the barking. He hung his head in defeat and tucked his tail as he made his way inside with a resigned look. Usually he’s excited to enter all buildings. We can’t even go into the vet without his whole body swaying from his tail wagging so fast!
There were several dogs barking all at once with big dogs loose in the grooming area. They were full of energy as noses and paws were peaking out from behind the high counter trying to see us. The dogs were sweet, but overwhelming for the pup.
When I returned a couple hours later, the noise was just as deafening! As I was standing there in order to pay, I could hear my pup moaning and groaning occasionally. He isn’t a big barker, but he sure talks quite a bit with those crazy noises! The lady there was surprised I could hear him over the chaos of the other dogs when I responded to him. I recognized his voice, but he probably couldn’t hear mine.
It made me think that no matter how noisy and chaotic life is around us, God still hears our moans and groans. He’s ready to answer amidst all the noise in our lives. The problem when it’s so busy and loud around us, is that we have trouble hearing Him respond. It’s vital we get those quiet places throughout our day in order to rest and be able to hear God.
God showed me how important it is to strive for calm throughout my day. You see, my pup has been getting sick after returning home from dealing with the noise and chaos when he gets his hair cut. The vet told us that stress on him could be the cause of him throwing up even a couple days after dealing with it. Stress has lasting effects on our physical bodies as well as our minds.
I challenge you to be aware when those times of quiet are needed, and do everything you can to make it happen. Do it as maintenance. If not, the stress will show up in different ways. You’ll be more likely to snap at people and you’ll be less likely to hear God’s voice. You’ll be more likely to get sick and less likely to think clearly. You’ll be more likely to face anxiety and less likely to feel God’s peace.
When you can’t hear yourself think, how are you going to be able to hear God’s still small voice?
