FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY: QUIET

Our youth group was large and loud, but my voice was not. So when we needed to have their attention, one of us leaders would yell, “God is good!” Those nearest us, the ones who could easily hear our words, would reply, “All the time!” Their additional voices would then be loud enough to get the attention of the rest of the group.

However, as time passed, I noticed that our “God is good” proclamation often became not a grateful exclamation of praise, but an exasperated way of scolding, “Shut up!” Glaring faces would look to the noisy ones and yell, “God is good!” with such frustration that it seemed our words were merely an intimidating tool used to silence them.    

Our word prompt for today is QUIET. We are called to quietness by having a gentle spirit, by serving in selflessness, by refraining from hurtful words, and by stilling our souls to listen. When the world gets noisy with anger or frustration or conflict or anxiety, we are called to be agents of this quiet peacefulness. And we can begin by remembering how good God is.

God IS good, ALL the time. How we choose to reveal and express this truth will make a difference.

(Five Minute Friday is an online writing community. Each week, we are given a one-word prompt and five minutes to write. You may find other posts or add your own at the link above!)