Have you ever tried to have a meaningful conversation with a teenager when he’s in a room full of friends with the television going on and he’s texting someone? Or a toddler who has a room full of toys before her and a Disney movie on the television? It’s nearly impossible.

You may get grunts and head shakes at the appropriate times, but what are they really grasping? And if they convey anything in return, other than a grunt, does it make any sense to the conversation?

Now, is it any wonder people are always saying God never speaks to them?

God constantly speaks, we just don’t hear Him. And is it any wonder with all of the noise going on in our worlds. iPhones, iPads, iPods, computers, televisions, radios, people, people, people.

When was the last time you got away somewhere completely isolated, truly quiet, and sat still for a few minutes?

Think about it. I don’t mean with soothing music on, even if it’s worship music. I mean as much, as you can control it, complete silences

This morning I decided to try it. I walked into my office, which is where I have my quiet time, and I closed the door. I turned off the worship music. I unplugged anything that made noise and I sat still. Guess what I heard? Noise, lots and lots of noise. I was amazed by the noise I still heard after I turned off everything I could think of turning off.

• I heard water passing through the pipes because the washing machine was going three rooms away.
• I head birds chirping outside, rather loudly I might add, considering it wasn’t even 8 a.m.
• I heard the roar of the heater turning on.
• I heard a train, which the closest train tracks are a few miles away from my home.
• I heard dogs barking.
• I head cars driving somewhere.
• I head my own breathing, and it suddenly seemed loud in my ears. Do I make this much noise all the time?

It’s amazing all I heard when I got still and quiet. It’s understandable why the Lord tells us in Psalm 46:10,

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

If you want to hear what God is saying, then you have to be still, at least at first. I know there are times in life when we don’t have control over the noises and distractions around us, but I believe we can hear God, even then. It’s possible if we’ve practiced the art of being still in the quiet to hear His voice. We come to know how to find the secret place inside of us where God resides and speaks to our hearts. We recognize His voice and can pick it out of the chaos.

So if you’re struggling with hearing God speak, maybe it’s time to squirrel away, find that quiet place, even if it means getting up an hour earlier. I can promise you He will not disappoint you. Jeremiah 29:13 tells us,

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

What are you waiting for? Find a quiet place and be still.