Day 4: When Silence Feels Awkward — Not Quite Holy (Yet)

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." — Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

While silence is often a doorway to deeper spiritual life and one of the primary classic "spiritual disciplines," let's be honest: at first, it can feel incredibly awkward. Like showing up for a date and realizing your phone "mysteriously" died — so now you can’t even hide behind it. Your mind races. Your legs go numb. Your stomach grumbles. You wonder if God even showed up, or if you’re just staring at the ceiling for no reason.

You've been taught to pray. And then to listen.

But what if when you listen, all you hear is ... crickets.

It turns out this experience is ancient. The early monks even had a name for it: acedia—the "noonday demon" of restless boredom and spiritual listlessness. One 4th-century monk described it as feeling like the sun barely moved and the day lasted fifty hours.

If silence feels awkward, painful, or pointless—you’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing it honestly. This is your soul’s detox from noise and performance addiction. Stillness exposes our insecurity: If I'm not producing, am I still growing?

God's answer: Yes.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him," Psalm 37:7 (NIV) reminds us. Growth often looks like stillness before it looks like fruit.

In silence, performance dies. Presence is born. And in the presence of God, you are loved, seen, and known—not for what you do, but for who you are. Let that be enough. God is not ghosting you. He's been with you all along.

Reflection:

When was the last time you allowed yourself to be fully still before God—even if it felt awkward? What did you notice?

Prayer:

Lord, fight for me. Help me to see You show up. Teach me there is safety and rest in being still. In Your name, I pray.

We hope this Plan encouraged you. This plan is lifted from the book "Holy Hustle Detox" by Heather Hair. Find this book, and more encouraging resources by Heather, here at this link.