There’s a beauty in quietness. Not quietness as in those moments of peaceful, lovely silence (which is a rare thing in my home) — but quietness in service. I see a tendency in myself to want to proclaim the good things that I’ve done — or said — or intend to do. Yet, there is a power in restraint. In serving without the other knowing. In befriending out of love. In speaking well of others. There is beauty in the quiet.
We live in a culture that screams look at me yet, deep down, I’m starting to desire, to crave, the joy of serving as an act that brings glory to God. Not self. And often, that type of response does not receive the pat-on-the backs and way-to-go’s that the world offers. Instead it’s an intimate heart connection between the server and the Lord.
Service becomes praise.
Service becomes an act of love.
Service becomes beauty.
Service deepens the relationship with Jesus.
Service is joy.
It’s no longer defined by society’s norms. It’s instead simply done to bless another. To encourage. Without all the fan-fare. That’s where my heart is now. Simply quiet.
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12 comments
hello – I’m new to your blog and following! I love this post! Thank you – it’s very timely in my life right now.
you wrote – “It’s no longer defined by society’s norms”. I am having such a hard time remembering to be comfortable being an alien and not fitting in. Not keeping up.
thank you!
Stef
What a beautiful post. Thank you for reminding me.
Such greatness here…in the quiet of this post!
That is just beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing….
Hugs
Ah the beauty of silence. Most days I have to fight that thing that screams in me, “Hey, look at me”, or “Hey, look what I’ve done”. A typical response of my flesh. I am thankful for God’s gentle nudges that keep me on the straight path.
I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE doing things for others. However, it is extremely hard to do something and not enjoy the praise from it. There are times that I will get excited when no one knows about something I have done but inevitably I spill the beans. Hoping for that pat-on-the-back instead of enjoying that connection with God.
Thank you for such a wonderful reminder!
This was excellent. Sometimes even blogging can become a bragfest about what all we have accomplished. I know I have to be careful about that. We should not be pointing to ourselves, but what Christ has done in us.
So beautiful!!!! **Hugs**
Thanks for this reminder, Rachel. So good for me to hear.
I love this post. 🙂 I think it’s neat that this attitude you have described *seems* to come sorta “naturally” out of the overflow of a growing, fruitful walk with the Father. He has been showing me that quietness is nearly always better, in many, many situations. 🙂
This is something I’ve been learning recently: to appreciate the joy that comes from quiet service. I think it really exemplifies the stillness God calls us to in Psalm 46:10 – a way of acknowledging His sovereignty, but in His sovereignty, His humble service.
I love this post, sometimes this type of quietness is so hard to have when we are used to being go-go-go. But I think it’s when we can truely hear God speaking to our heart.