Sharing my thoughts and suggestions for a “serenity summer” previously, I feel the same beckoning within my own soul for the serenity of silence, solitude, and stillness. While summer certainly offers many opportunities for activity, it often invites me into a slower rhythm.
Making time to move more slowly through the longer days of summer pulls the light inward, illuminating the dry and weary places in need of refreshment.
Even if we think we avoid hurrying about our days, they can still feel rushed and haphazard. My personal nemesis, the “To Do List”, badgers me with the urgency of self-imposed faux deadlines.
Leaving me with the impression of real serenity of silence, solitude, and stillness as the proverbial carrot on a stick which I never quite grasp.
But is the true rest of this type of serenity really a destination, or something more?
The Source of Serenity
Despite my best efforts of arriving at “destination serenity”, my frantic posture usually sends me in the opposite direction. Incorporating peace pauses, rest stops, and brief moments of catching my breath only seem to increase my anxiety of failing to get enough done to obtain the rest I so desire.
When you embrace the source of serenity through silence, solitude, and stillness, the weary and dry places are refreshed and made new.
The key then to obtaining the soul nourishment of serenity lies in quiet connection to the source, not in building a highway to get there.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The perfect peace my soul desperately longs after finds its source in Jesus Christ. Only in Him will I find the sought after serenity. “My world” of striving, pushing, accomplishing, and rushing only serves to move me away from all my soul needs.
Seeking Silence, Solitude, and Stillness
Confidently resting in the source of serenity, requires I walk with Jesus instead of running ahead. Walking at Jesus’ pace means choosing a slower cadence to my days. Even when Jesus walked the earth during His ministry, He never hurried.
The God of the universe had more on His mind and agenda than any of my busiest days, yet He welcomed interruptions, detours, and delays with patience.
I love the premise of Kosuke Koyama’s book, “Three Mile an Hour God” comparing Christ’s way of life on earth with the harried culture in which we now live.
Inviting us into a slower, savoring lifestyle, Koyama says, “‘[God] walks ‘slowly’ because he is love. If he is not love, he would have gone much faster. Love has its speed. It is an inner speed. It is a spiritual speed. It is a different kind of speed from the technological speed to which we are accustomed… It is the speed we walk and therefore it is the speed the love of God walks.”
Unless we pursue silence, solitude, and stillness, true soul rest remains nothing but an elusive dream. But in the presence of these things, the sediment of the daily grind settles, and we find the true source of serenity.
The Serenity of Silence, Solitude, and Stillness
Instead of pretending or hiding in our interactions with people, and many cases God, walking at the “speed of love” reveals God’s love in the circumstances and encounters of my day.
Becoming more present with God, brings more presence and authenticity within my relationships. Choosing to sit in uncomfortable silence, nurtures solitude and stillness, as I release control of my day to God.
As we choose to “be still” with God, we not only learn to know Him more deeply, but we find the complete serenity of being known by an unfailing love.
The serenity of silence, solitude, and stillness is not a destination at the end of a busy day or season of life, it is a manner of living available to us in the middle of it all. In Jesus we find all our weary and dry souls need in the very moment we seek Him.
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Lynn says
I’ve noticed that my “to do” list pulls me to walk faster when take a break to slow down! My body wants to slow, take in the stillness, but it can take time before my mind catches up. So this really resonated with me today: “Only in Him will I find the sought after serenity.” Amen!
Donna says
Lynn, my To Do list is a brutal taskmaster. When I slow down to rest, my mind fills with everything still left “to do!” But God is teaching me to value peace over the noise of To Do lists, and “being” rather than “doing”.
Jeanne Takenaka says
Donna, this post is beautiful. I especially love your conclusion. We can find serenity in the middle of the crazy. Serenity isn’t a destination, it’s something available to us at any time because of Jesus, His presence, and His love. Thank you for this reminder, my friend!
Donna says
Thank you, Jeanne for your kind and encouraging words! I love the way the Lord took my penchant for finding a specific destination of serenity and shifted my perspective to a better understanding of my access to His Peace at any time!
Paula says
Donna, this really spoke to my soul. I’ve got to tell you how much I love quiet. It allows me to just be still and embrace the serene for sure.
Visiting today from G&T
Donna says
So pleased you found a quiet respite here Paula!
Lois Flowers says
Donna, this reminds me of my dad in his later years, and also my 93-year-old aunt (his sister) who is still alive and amazing. They learned how to function more slowly because they had to, but their slower pace also made it possible for them to be fully present and listen to the person in front of them. The older I get, the more I hope to be able to “welcome interruptions, detours, and delays with patience” like Jesus did.
Donna says
Lois, I recently read an article by someone who advocated for a slower way of life, which drew me in. She said just try it for one day, walk slower, drive slower, eat slower, speak slower…. notice how you feel in your body and how you engage others. All I can say is it was transforming!
Trudy says
“The key then to obtaining the soul nourishment of serenity lies in quiet connection to the source, not in building a highway to get there.” I love how you put this, Donna. I so love that soul nourishment of serenity found alone in a quiet connection with Jesus, the Source who alone can refresh our weary souls. Thank you for encouraging us to make it a manner of living. Love and blessings of serenity to you!
Donna says
Trudy, it is easy to understand where the source of our serenity lies, but not so easy to live it! So many things end up pushing us into the fast lane each day, but then we miss that fellowship with Jesus only found at a slower, more intentional cadence.
Maryleigh says
I love silence, solitude and stillness – and you are right – it does have to be pursued. Koyama’s quote is a sermon all in itself – yet, the title – Three Miles and Hour God – is a visual that shows the pace. I am hungry for a three-mile-and hour time – where nothing sneaks in to make me increase my pace. I’m going to savor this idea for awhile. Thank you, Donna!
Donna says
Thank you, Maryleigh, I wrote this post to myself, as I have been keeping too fast a pace lately. If we insist on rushing through our days, we will not be walking at Christ’s pace, which means, silence, solitude, and stillness will be hard to come by! May God bless you as you seek to see what this looks like for you.
Deborah says
Donna, I needed this today as I have found myself rushing lately. And now I can slow down to Jesus’ walk. A walk of peace.
Donna says
Amen, Deborah. Praise God as He always knows what we need, when we need it!
Lisa Blair says
This is so true, Donna, “The key then to obtaining the soul nourishment of serenity lies in quiet connection to the source, not in building a highway to get there.” He alone can nurture our spirit and soul in the way we truly need it.
Donna says
Thank you, Lisa, yes, He is the only source and way we can truly know the rest and peace we need!
Barbara Harper says
I love this: “The key then to obtaining the soul nourishment of serenity lies in quiet connection to the source, not in building a highway to get there.” The way is already there. We just need to rest in Him.
Donna says
Amen Barbara, He has provided the way, all we have to do is get off at His exit!
Joanne Viola says
Loved this >> “The key then to obtaining the soul nourishment of serenity lies in quiet connection to the source, not in building a highway to get there.” May we take the time to quiet ourselves with Him and His Word and nourish our souls each day. We surely need it in this loud and fast-paced world. Beautiful reminder, Donna!
Donna says
Amen, Joanne, sometimes the key is pausing, taking the time needed to refocus. That’s when we can truly receive all he has for us.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser says
There’s silence, solitude, and stillness,
not even one quiet voice,
but since this all was bought by illness
and I really had no choice,
I thought that I might feel resentment,
looking back on who I was,
but somehow there’s an odd contentment
and perhaps that is because
while I had been trained to action,
as long rifleman I learned to wait,
and that blend of watchful passion
was the key to greet this fate
with acceptance that it does deserve;
and in this way, I do yet serve.
Donna says
Andrew! I love your poem here today! Thank you so much for your service, not only before you became ill, but now as you serve us each week in your own precious way.
Linda Stoll says
‘The key then to obtaining the soul nourishment of serenity lies in quiet connection to the source, not in building a highway to get there.’
God must shake His head at all our frantic striving when His full loving attention is always available. His arms are open and He is always ready to save.
Donna, thanks for this needful reminder …
Donna says
Thank you, Linda, for your kind words. I DO wonder how God endures our foolishness sometimes. He invites us into the rest and peace only He can give, but we run around making our own way!
Lux G. says
I love this line so much, Donna. -> When you embrace the source of serenity through silence, solitude, and stillness, the weary and dry places are refreshed and made new.
I really value serenity and peace. I can get tangled up in the hustle and bustle of every day. Too many distractions. It’s good to go back to the source.
Donna says
Lux, I greatly value serenity and peace too, I find it life-giving, perhaps that’s why Christ invites us there!