In talking with one of us recently, there was a remark about the blessing of peace and quiet as she had sorely lacked such for some weeks. It got me thinking – I mean “musing!”
How critical it is to have times of quiet. In fact, such appears to be God’s will as every day He has programmed into every person such a spell usually lasting 7 or 8 hours. The body needs peace and quiet.
It is also God’s will that His followers carve out peace and quiet time in order to meditate and pray. Daily time contemplating His promises, works, and existence gives the soul nourishment. Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God. Restated: Quiet down and contemplate life and know that it is from God and by God.
Being still is also God’s pattern and command to set aside a weekly day for peace and quiet. Sundays are very helpful to people.
But, we can’t get away from commotion and chaos. Know why? We live among people! They may not be enemies or evil, they may just be fellow travelers, but their very presence causes issues. It may be grandchildren. They create commotion and chaos (do they ever)! Then there are fellow employees – they cause commotion and chaos for they call in sick or they don’t do a project correctly or timely or they fuss with a decision. And there are neighbors – they have a late night party or they have yapping dogs. People cause commotion and chaos. It is life.
Furthermore, I don’t find God’s presence marked by hush and stillness. Rather, the seraphim cease not to say, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke (Isaiah 6 and also Revelation 4).
Now there is certainly a peace that comes into a soul when they submit to Jesus as their Savior. And in the midst of storms, even great storms, there can be quiet (Jesus sleeping in the storm-tossed boat and Elijah hearing a little, quiet voice). Yes, there is peace and quiet in God AND activity and voices – even loud voices!
Consider Psalm 150:
Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
So, peace and quiet are both necessary and important, but commotion and chaos (activity and noise) are also necessary and important for they come with being engaged with people and with being duly moved by how great our God is. We should be people that raise a “ruckus” over our God – not quiet about Him with others or even toward Him!
May we strike a good balance in these critical areas of life.
a PK Musing 
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