Shhhhhhhhhh

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!  Amazing how many syllables a little southern boy like myself could add to a one syllable word like Dad.  This method was usually invoked when my older brothers picked on me.

In Lawrenceburg, TN we lived in a very old creaky two story house. At 5 years of age I was sleeping in my own room and had my own closet.  I mention the closet because if you walked through the closet there was a door to our attic.  Even at a young age I knew that fear didn't come from the Lord. I thought for sure though that it must come from older siblings!  They would tell me to lie real still in my bed at night and listen for the sound of rats trying to get through the attic door and into my room.  Naturally, I began to fear the quiet.  I would lie in bed and do anything to keep from being quiet until I became so weary that there was no choice but to fall asleep.

We live in a world today where people seem to fear being quiet.  We are constantly surrounding ourselves with noise.  If you have small children you have no choice, but even in those alone times in a car we tune into the radio or reach for our cell phones.  Why are we afraid to be quiet?  Are we afraid of what we might hear?

Today is the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  I think about how quiet of a day it must have been following the crucifixion of Jesus as people retreated to their homes trying to understand what horrific thing they had just witnessed.  I am reminded of two different Scriptures on this day.  Jesus said, "I make all things new" which means a new beginning for all of us!  Going back to the first beginning in Genesis 1:2 I read that God was hovering over the chaos.  What a comfort to know that even on Friday as Jesus was being beaten and led to Calvary that God the Father was hovering over this chaotic day.  God always brings order where there is none when we allow Him on the scene.  God was even hovering over the disciples as their futures had been thrown into chaos and they hid in a tiny room.

I am also reminded of I Kings 19:11-12 when God revealed Himself to Elijah on the mountain.  On Good Friday after Jesus had breathed His last breath God's anger was demonstrated through strong winds, an earthquake and fire.  God was in all of those things that day.  However, when Elijah waited on the mountain for the Lord to pass by he experienced a strong wind, an earthquake and fire, BUT God was not in those things!!  For Elijah to experience the presence of God that day he had to be QUIET.  God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.

As you go about your Saturday and prepare for a Risen Savior do not be afraid to experience the deafening silence that surrounded the tomb on that day.  Jesus was mocked while He hung on the cross for not performing a magical "life saving" trick.  His silence through the trials had to have been disheartening for those who loved Him.  I encourage you to not fear the quiet today because tomorrow we will hear the sound of a large stone rolling away followed by our Heavenly Father's voice saying, "It's OK".