Dennis' Sermon Prep Workflow | Psalm 62:1–7

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 885 Waiting 42 Years

For forty-two years every week, David Thomas slipped a love letter under the door of his neighbor, Rachel Jones. Each letter attempted to mend the lover’s quarrel that parted them when both were 32. Rachel Jones burned each letter and refused even to speak to her suitor.

When David finally summoned courage to knock on her door and proposed, she accepted. Both were 74 years old when marriage finally came.

Recently I came upon the story of David Thomas…

One day, David Thomas’ life was turned upside down because of a quarrel. Now we may never experience a 42 year long lover’s quarrel, but we all have experienced trials in our lives. Whether it be a lover’s spat, or an argument with a coworker. Whether it be an unexpected loss of a job, or attacks from others, we have all experienced the attacks that come from life.

Whatever has happened, the writer has been severely shaken by life.

Have you ever been there? Where life has shaken you?

We all have. In fact I asked Chat GPT, an ai generator to give me a list of the most common trials people face each day and here’s what it listed:

Stress and Anxiety: Balancing work, family, and personal life can cause significant stress.

Time Management: Trying to juggle multiple responsibilities with limited time.

Financial Pressures: Managing bills, debts, and expenses.

Health Concerns: Dealing with chronic conditions, fatigue, or general health maintenance.

Relationship Struggles: Navigating conflicts or maintaining strong connections with family, friends, and coworkers.

Workplace Challenges: Facing difficult tasks, deadlines, or workplace dynamics.Decision-Making: Making choices, both big and small, that impact daily life.

Temptations: Resisting unhealthy habits, addictions, or distractions.

Emotional Struggles: Coping with feelings of sadness, loneliness, or frustration.

Uncertainty: Dealing with unknowns in life, such as job security, health, or future plans.

Social Pressures: Facing expectations from society, peers, or cultural norms.

Maintaining Discipline: Sticking to routines, goals, or moral principles.

Technology Overload: Managing distractions from social media, emails, and constant connectivity.

Balancing Personal and Professional Life: Ensuring that one’s job doesn’t overshadow personal life or vice versa.

Physical Fatigue: Managing tiredness from work, lack of sleep, or physical exertion.

Spiritual Battles: Struggling with faith, doubt, or religious practices.

Conflict Resolution: Handling disagreements or confrontations in a constructive way.

Self-Esteem Issues: Battling feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.

Maintaining a Positive Attitude: Choosing optimism in the face of difficulties.

Loneliness or Isolation: Feeling disconnected from others, even in a busy world.

And if we’re all honest, we’ve all faced one or all of these!

Trials are an inevitable Part of Life

The psalmist was in the midst of great struggle. We’re not sure what time in David’s life caused the writing of this song, and if we attempt to pin it down we would merely be speculating because, let’s be honest, David’s life was filled with struggles as well as victories.

So how does the Psalmist encourage us to deal with our Trials? In one word:

Silence

This is obviously a call to prayer, and the Psalmist is speaking about his time with God, but notice what he says: “For God alone my soul waits in silence.”

We’re not good at silence in our culture. If we’re honest silence makes us uncomfortable.

In fact, Psychologist and sociologist state that our culture is afraid of silence. The reason is we’re always surrounded by noise.

But Psychologists have linked a lack of silence as leading to several societal ills:

1. Overstimulation and Anxiety

Constant Noise and Distraction: Psychologists argue that our world is filled with constant noise and distractions, from social media to non-stop entertainment. This overstimulation can make silence uncomfortable, even anxiety-inducing, because people are so accustomed to being constantly engaged.Avoidance of Inner Thoughts: Silence forces people to confront their inner thoughts and emotions, which many may find unsettling. The avoidance of silence can be a way to avoid uncomfortable feelings or unresolved issues.

2. Decreased Attention Span

Fragmented Focus: The lack of silence and the constant bombardment of information can lead to a decreased attention span. Psychologists suggest that this fragmented focus makes it difficult for individuals to engage in deep reflection or meaningful meditation, both of which require quiet and stillness.Impact on Mental Health: The inability to sit in silence may contribute to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and a general feeling of being overwhelmed. Constant noise and stimulation can prevent the brain from entering a restful state, which is essential for mental well-being.

3. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Social Pressure: Many people fear missing out on social interactions or important events, which can make them uncomfortable with silence. The constant checking of devices and the need to stay updated can make silence feel like a void that needs to be filled with activity.Addiction to Stimulation: Psychologists also point to a kind of addiction to stimulation, where people feel a compulsive need to engage with their devices or media to avoid the discomfort of being alone with their thoughts.

4. Loss of Connection to Self

Erosion of Self-Reflection: The inability to handle silence can lead to a loss of self-reflection and introspection, which are key to personal growth and understanding. Without time spent in silence, individuals may struggle to connect with their deeper selves or to understand their true needs and desires.Impact on Creativity: Silence has been linked to creativity and problem-solving. Psychologists note that when people avoid silence, they miss out on opportunities for creative thinking and innovation that often arise during quiet moments.

5. Cultural Shift

Societal Expectations: Our culture often equates productivity with constant activity, leaving little room for silence. This societal expectation can make silence seem unproductive or wasteful, further reinforcing discomfort with it.

Christian Author Dallas Willard notes "The discipline of silence is one of the most powerful and essential practices for a life of true spiritual depth."

In our world filled with noise a lack of silence, a lack of stillness has led to a shallow Christianity that has not depth. So how do we reverse this?

So what is the answer

The Spiritual Discipline of Silence

We must choose silence.

The Psalmist, in the midst of his trials chose silence.

Psalm 62:1 ESV

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

Psalm 62:5 ESV

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Donald Whitney: “Silence is a spiritual discipline that many of us find difficult, but it is necessary for the well-being of our souls. It is in silence that we learn to hear God’s voice and to tune out the distractions that clutter our minds and hearts. The practice of silence is not merely about the absence of noise but about creating space for God to speak and for us to listen.”

Moving Towards Silence

Psalm 62:1–5 ESV

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Plan to Be Silent

Silence doesn’t happen in our culture. There’s always a facebook post to look at, a text message to return, a phone call to receive, a television to watch, but if we’re going to be silent then we must carve out time for it.

Richard Foster in his book on Spiritual Disciplines say,

“Without silence there is no solitude. Though silence sometimes involves the absence of speech, it always involves the act of listening. Simply to refrain from talking, without a heart listening to God, is not silence. Silence is inner quietness, a practiced control of the tongue and the mind, especially when we are with others.”

So how do you plan it? You make room for it.

Find a place where you can be alone. Cut off all external noise, the tv, silence your cell phone, cut the notification bell off of your computer.

Make space for silence.

Psalm 46:10 ESV

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

But one of the major ways you can plan is by starting small.

The problem with many when it comes to being silent is that we often do this, “I’m going to start being silent and listen to God for 1 hour every day.”

The problem with this is it’s almost an impossible task. Start small. Taking just a moment to listen to God.

Start with 5 minutes.

As the old saying goes, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Plan this week to spend 5 minutes a day in silence after you read the Bible and before you pray. ask God as you begin to speak to you as you listen to him.

Mark 1:35 ESV

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Have a PROCESS for Silence

Psalm 62:8 ESV

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Next you need to have a process. Let me suggest this one:

Pray

First, pray. It doesn’t have to be a 3 hour prayer, it can simply be something like this: God, I want to hear from you. I want to hear the voice of my God. Speak to me through your word and help me to hear you as I remove all distractions so that I can hear your voice.

Read

First find a passage of scripture and read it. It doesn’t have to be 3 chapters, it can be one verse.

Read it once, then read it again.

And then:

Listen

Listen to what God is saying to you through his word.

Thomas Merton: “In the depths of silence, God speaks. Our spiritual task is to learn how to listen, to find the divine voice in the midst of our own inner noise and confusion.”

Respond

Finally, respond appropriately to what God says to you.

If you discover some reason to praise him, then praise to God over what he has said to you, or how he has revealed.

If you are convicted over some sin in your life, then repent immediately.

If you are overcome by some trial in life, rest in the glorious peace of God.

If you are beset with problems, then lay them at his feet.

Act

Finally, we are to act upon what God says.

Psalm 62:11–12 ESV

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.