In the Still of Night
By Justin March

It is quiet tonight.  Life has been so crazy the last 60 days, it feels
like an eternity since I have found myself sitting in peace.  The silence
overcomes me, and although I relish in the relaxation and serenity of the
night, somehow the lack of noise is still deafening.  My mind begins to
race with everything I want to accomplish this week, and although the sound is
absent, these thoughts create a noise inside me that feels difficult to
extinguish.

Why do I find it so difficult to embrace the stillness I long for?  I can
go all week praying for a few moments of silence, but once it is granted, I
find myself feeling guilty about wasting the precious moments I have.
Instead of taking the time to take a few deep breaths and allow the quiet to
overcome me, I become anxious about the list I have and the chance to cross off
something from its’ never-ending demands.  It becomes a vicious cycle, and
the more I seem to accomplish, the more the list seems to grow.

It is quiet tonight.  Maybe I should let everything go and breathe in the
Holy Spirit that is begging for my attention.  Maybe I should shove the
chores aside and take some time to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate.  And
maybe I should remember that it is the season of Advent where God is
challenging me to slow down and wait patiently for the arrival of His
Son.

Are you feeling worn out or overwhelmed?  Are you struggling to keep up
with life’s great demands?  If so, take a few moments for yourself.
Take some time to find the stillness the Advent Season brings.  And when
you capture those quiet moments, like I have tonight, make sure to embrace them
and thank God for the promises he brings during this special time of the
year.  For in these calm moments, we find a peace that only He can breathe
into our lives.  And once we allow that peace to overcome us, we find
ourselves refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on anything this crazy
would wants to throw our way!