Rachel Whisman

Quietly

YouTube, podcasts, sermons, music, etc., were always pounded into my head whenever there was a free moment without people. Silence was non-existant. These transitioned into footsteps walking, leaves rustling, dogs barking, slow breaths escaping, thoughts swirling, the sun lowering, the low hum of cars driving by, and the day’s work melting away. 

“Quiet.” 

This is something more foreign to me than I would like to admit. Going, always. Doing, never stopping. Finite I am and I abuse it with negligence. This is not the way God designed us. 

I have struggled with this fact. I can’t do everything. I can’t ingest everything. I am limited, but in this limitedness is the beauty of our existence because that is the way God made us. I have been wrestling with this since the summer and by the grace of God He landed two things in my lap. Nothing new, but something that caught my attention. 

At the beginning of this month, I came across two things. A challenge and an article. A challenge by Kelsey Moore to walk outside for 30 minutes each day for 30 days and a newsletter from one of my favorite writers, Glenna Marshall (unfortunately I deleted her newsletter and can’t find the link, but here is the gist). She shared how she recently started “turning off the noises” around her. She turned off the speaker playing Spotify while folding laundry and practiced memorizing scripture. She turned off the music in the car and turned her thoughts towards prayer. She said it helped her feel closer to Christ since she was going through a dry season. I was on board and a little bit more silence in my life wouldn’t hurt, nor the opportunity to abide more with Christ. 

Both seemed like a great idea. Walking is apparently good for you and so is spending more time with the Lord. Therefore, I mushed them together and voila I challenged myself to go walking for 30 minutes as many times as I could for October without bringing my phone along for the ride. So I ditched my phone, put on my walking shoes, and headed to the great outdoors aka the street I live on whenever I got home from work. Turns out Kelsey and Glenna were on to something and I don’t think I am going back to the way it was anytime soon.

Silence

Nothing magical happened while I was walking. I started noticing myself not wanting to say anything the first half mile or until I got to the end of my street. I just wanted to walk and the silence was welcoming and the warmth of the sun was a delight. As a teacher, I think I answer at least 100 questions every day. Questions abound like, when is lunch? Is it almost snack time? Ms.Whisman, can you tie my shoes? Ms.Whisman, why is my tooth loose? Ms.Whisman, how do you spell ‘because’? Ms.Whisman, how many kids do you have? Ms.Whisman, I am going to be a cheerleader for Halloween what are you going to be? What time is it? Are we going to lunch now? I love answering these questions, but the questions are never-ending. My brain is constantly going, so to take the time to create some margin where nothing was coming in turned out to be a soothing balm. I didn’t realize how much I needed to decompress from the day until I was experiencing it. 

Prayer and Reflections 

Once I make it down my street, some days I turn around and I am ready to pray and talk with the Lord…other days I continue in silence and enjoy it. Although I have only been doing this for a couple of weeks, walking and talking with the Lord has changed everything. I wish I would have started this sooner. Here are some of the topics that have popped into my mind on various days to reflect and pray about whether you are walking outside, folding laundry, driving to work, or cleaning dishes. 

God. Slow down and choose one attribute of God that you want to think about for the week.   

Wisdom, love, gentleness, simplicity, sovereignty, authority, control, self-existence, etc. At the start of the week, just read a chapter from A.W. Tozer’s, The Knowledge of the Holy or Arthur Pink’s The Attributes of God for the week so you can have something to chew on while you walk. Reflect on what scripture says about this attribute. Where did you see this attribute today? Share it with God. Praise Him for who He is. 

Church. What was taught at Church? What scripture struck you? Where were you convicted? Meditate on the sermon and share it with the Lord.  Your Pastor. Who is leading you? They need wisdom, guidance, humility, a burning passion for the Lord. Help stoke the flames of their hearts through prayer. They need your prayers! The ministries that make up your local church (children’s, junior high, high school, college, young adult, married, special needs, widows, volunteers, missionaries, etc). You are part of the body of Christ. Tend to it with prayer.

Family. What are they struggling with? Are there some in your family who are not saved? Pray for their salvation. Praise the Lord for whatever blessings He has given your family. Pray that they would love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

Friends. Intercede in prayer for them. Thank the Lord for who He has placed in your life. 

Homes. There are a lot of homes one can pass while on a walk. Families, widows, and singles live in them. It is a great time to pray for your neighbors. 

Yourself. A lot goes on in a day. God is aware of it all, but there is a sweetness in sharing that with the Lord. What did you struggle with? Who did you get to bump into today? What are you thankful for? What are you frustrated by? Where did you see God working? Talk to God. 

Scripture. Great time to practice memorizing or meditating on scripture even if it is a verse or chapter. Lately, I have been thinking over a part of 2 Corinthians 5:11, “But what we are is known to God.” My thoughts unfold something like this. What does it mean to be known by someone? What does it mean to be known by God? What does He say? Where else in scripture is the theme of “being known” shown? How does this scripture tie in with Psalm 139? Since I am known by God, I have nothing to hide nor prove. What am I trying to prove to God? 

The thoughts continue, but even just a small verse is meaningful, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 5:11). God gave us His word and He will work through it. What a dichotomy I found as well to practice scripture memory/meditation as I walk amongst things that are dying. Verses being cemented into my heart while the grass that I see on my left is dying due to the end of a season. “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). 

Small Groups. What community are you in? Pray for your discussion leaders for the upcoming week as they prepare to lead you. Pray that your small group’s heart would be encouraged and cut to the heart on truths you might be studying. Praise the Lord for the time you will have with them. Pray for the individuals in your group and their needs. Pray that your group would hunger after the word of God. 

Sovereignty (example from attributes/scripture above)

“Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?…But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” -Matthew 6:26-27,30 

The world is crazy. This scripture above comes alive as I walk. I share my burdens of the day, but then I have the grass, animals, flowers, trees, and birds to remind me that God is in control. Small things that He tends to, just like the small things in my life. He cares for me. He is my Father. He will take care of me. 

Sun. I walk when the sun is going down and everyday it looks different. Sunsets are my favorite and as I go I am reminded of this verse in Lamentations 3:21-25,

“But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never comes to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion’ says my soul, therefore I will hope in Him. The Lor dis good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”

The sun sets. Praise the Lord for the new mercies He gave you today. The sun will rise again in the morning and bring afresh new mercies. What a gift. 

30 Minutes Later

The Lord works in the quiet. Jesus got away to be with His Father while on earth. I have started to get away as well and it has made a difference. 30 minutes later my circumstance might not change, but my heart posture does. I have not been successful at all doing this every day for 30 days, but it is not about that. It is about abiding with Jesus. Where do you need to “turn off the noise” in your life? Go for it. It is well worth the challenge.

*Walking themes that have conveniently popped up in my reading recently.

A voice of wisdom in walking with carefulness. 

“When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies. I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.” -Psalm 119:59-60

A voice of wisdom in walking with a command. 

“My son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your feet from their paths for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.” -Proverbs 1:15-16

A voice of wisdom in walking in your calling. 

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” -Colossians 2:6