Why Silence Feels So Hard (And Why You Need It With God)

By Brandon Abbott

We are surrounded by noise. From the moment we wake up, something is already filling the silence: notifications, music, podcasts, conversations, or scrolling. In a world where noise is constant, silence can feel uncomfortable, even unsettling.

But what if that discomfort is actually revealing something deeper?

Silence and solitude force us to slow down and face what we often try to avoid. Without distraction, we are left alone with our thoughts, our fears, and our questions. It is like looking into a mirror, and sometimes we’re not sure we like what we see.

Because of that, we fill our lives with noise. Not always because we need it, but because we do not want to sit in stillness long enough to reflect.

But Scripture shows us a different rhythm.

Jesus Himself regularly stepped away from the noise. Even with crowds pressing in and demands all around Him, He intentionally withdrew to quiet places; not to escape people, but to prepare for them.

Silence is not about isolation. It’s about intentional space with God. It’s in those quiet moments that we begin to hear Him more clearly. While God can speak in powerful, dramatic ways, He often speaks in a still, small voice.

Solitude also gives us the opportunity to process what’s happening inside of us. The doubts, fears, and insecurities we try to ignore do not disappear; they just get buried under noise. But in stillness, God begins to bring truth to those places.

Practically, this does not require a complete escape from the world. It may be as simple as putting your phone down, stepping away from distraction, or creating a small moment of quiet in your day. It might be sitting with a journal, writing out what’s on your mind, or meditating on a short passage of Scripture.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is presence.

Silence is not empty—it is an invitation. An invitation to slow down, to listen, and to remember that God is near.