The Power of Stillness
Embracing silence can reveal the divine power within us, allowing us to connect with our true selves. What if, instead of fleeing from the quiet, we sat in stillness and discovered our strength?
It is in silence that some feel small, and it is also in silence that others hear God’s call. The difference lies in the approach—whether stillness is viewed as a weight or an opportunity to navigate. Fear itself creates a barrier between us and God, driving us to flee from our thoughts. But God lives within us—how could He not? We are made in His image, our minds a reflection of His divinity. Yet, the world around us urges us to avoid embracing what lies within.
We turn from the voices in our heads because the weight of our fear convinces us that flight is the only option. But when we truly embrace the power within our minds, it overflows so immensely that we feel compelled to share it and impact the lives of others. In silence, our creativity born of God comes to light; it sparks the construction of empires and ideas that once seemed impossible become reality.
But instead of sitting in stillness and accepting the power within, we follow the crowd, our hearts bound by fear, fleeing in haste. And as we do, we walk straight into another storm—the relentless storm of the world’s pace and its fury. In this chaos, we lose our sense of self, forget our true identity, and cast aside our honor, all to remain unseen. But to be seen—truly seen—would be radical, would it not? To be seen would be painful. To be seen would require exposure. To be seen would mean being like Christ on the cross, naked, and bearing all that we are for the world to witness. To be seen is to accept that we will be stoned, nailed, and mocked. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
In the quiet of stillness, we discover who we truly are—gods and goddesses, created in the image of the Divine. When God says we will know Him, what he means is that on the day we dare to stop, dare to be still, dare to breathe, and dare to drop our burdens at his feet …. On that day, we will experience what it means to truly be free. On that day, your next steps will become clear, your boundaries will be unshakable, and your “no” will be firm and decisive. The treatment you receive from others will be nothing short of divine, and anything less will no longer have a place in your life. On that day, you will openly shed tears as you face evil, acknowledging your pain while still allowing God’s calm spirit to soothe your racing heart. In that peace, you will trust Him to guide your steps with purpose.
Will you stumble? Undoubtedly. But think of those whose names we still call today—were their lives without battles? Did those people not bear their scares for the world to see? Were those individuals not firm in their purpose and sense of self, so much so that their stories have shaken us and moved us to action? Black mothers during slavery are that for me. If they could endure the pain of having their children torn from their arms and still choose to live, then the same way people say I’ve inherited generational trauma, I also say I’ve inherited generational strength.
When I welcomed the silence to hear God’s voice, I discovered something more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I saw all of God within me:
I am the wise one, who reasons with grace. I am the prophetess, who sees the light in people’s hearts, even when it doesn’t show on their faces. I am the nurturer, whose love wraps you in safety and comfort. I am the fighter, whose strength conquers even the darkest nights.
Who are you?
You have known love. You have felt pain. You have stood in darkness. You have received the kindness of others. You’ve lost your way, but your inner light has guided you back to your path. Who are you when you sit in silence and shut out the noise of the world? Who are you when you wait for clarity?
Regardless of what others have said or seen in you, you are goodness. You are righteous. You are divine. You are on a journey of refinement, as silver is refined. Embrace your flaws, confront your regrets, and stand tall in the moments where you have faltered. For the totality of who you are is not defined by others’ opinions, nor by past actions. You are who you choose to be. Once you sit in stillness and come to know God, no one can tell you who you are, and no force can shake the foundation of your character.
Do not hide the trauma that has broken you into fragments, do not mask your truth because it makes you uncomfortable, and do not be bound by the experiences of your past. God knows your story—He ordained and blessed it before you were even a thought in your mother’s womb.
Even if you do not see the Divine within you or struggle to believe in something you cannot explain, that is okay. I once told someone who was a non-believer that I saw God in them. By that, I mean that I see your power, your strength, and the Divine spark within you. Even in our most secret acts, there is a piece of God in us just waiting to be exposed and brought to light.
Be still, and you may begin to see God. Be still, and you may begin to know yourself.