Part 1 on Mental Health - Quieting the Inner Noise
- Paul Abrahams
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Our world is loud! Not just in the obvious ways—traffic, phones buzzing, TVs always on—but in a deeper, relentless hum of information and expectations. We live in an age where silence is almost suspicious. If we’re not consuming content, multitasking, or responding to messages, something feels off. Yet beneath the constant hum, many of us feel drained, restless, and disconnected.
The Inner Noise
It’s not just external noise that wears us down—it’s the chatter inside our own heads. Thoughts like:
“I should be doing more.”
“What if I fail?”
“What do they think of me?”
“What if the future goes wrong?”
“My present situation is impossible.”
This inner static never shuts off. It fills our minds with worry, comparison, and pressure. Left unchecked, it shapes our moods, decisions, even our relationships.
We often call this mental clutter or mental gymnastics. Spiritually, Scripture gives it another name: anxious striving. The psalmist captures God’s invitation to a different way: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10).
Stillness as Resistance
Stillness in our culture is countercultural. It’s an act of resistance. When you turn off your phone, sit quietly, and breathe deeply, you’re refusing to let the world dictate your pace. Stillness is not laziness—it’s trust. It’s saying, “I don’t have to hold everything together. God is God, and I am not.”
Jesus’ rhythm was to use stillness. He was surrounded by crowds, constantly pressed with needs. Yet the Gospels repeatedly tell us, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16). If the Son of God needed solitude to stay centered, how much more do we?
What Happens in the Quiet
When we create moments of silence, a few things begin to shift:
Our minds slow down. At first the chatter may feel louder, but over time the noise loses its grip.
Our bodies relax. Breathing deep, unclenching muscles, we remember we are more than productivity machines.
Our spirits tune in. We become more aware of God’s presence, hearing His gentle whisper that so often gets drowned out.
Elijah experienced this in 1 Kings 19. God was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the gentle whisper. That’s still true today—His voice often comes in the quiet, not the chaos.
A Simple Practice
Here’s a way to begin:
Set aside five minutes. Choose a quiet space. Put away your phone.
Breathe deeply. Inhale slowly through your nose, exhale through your mouth.
Invite God in. Pray a simple prayer: “Lord, here I am. Quiet my heart so I can hear You.”
Notice what arises. Don’t fight the thoughts—just notice them, then gently let them pass.
Rest in stillness. Even if you only catch a glimpse of peace, that’s enough.
Over time, these small moments create a different rhythm of life—one marked not by hurry, but by presence.
Why This Matters
Quieting the inner noise is not just a mental health strategy—it’s a spiritual discipline. It realigns our souls with reality: that God is in control, and we are His beloved. When we quiet our minds, we create space for peace to enter. And from that peace flows clarity, resilience, and a deeper ability to love others well.
So ask yourself: When was the last time I was truly still? Not scrolling, not planning, not distracting myself—just still. If you can’t remember, maybe today is the day to start again.
Here are a couple of resources for you to start:
