Careful With The NOISE.

It's everywhere and affects everyone—all the time.

It has deviously intertwined itself into our lives and created a knot of numbness we prefer to leave tied because we so firmly believe that detangling it may unravel us whole.

We cower at life without noise, without those tiny seashells in our ears and our endless feeds.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what lies in the silence? Who you might find?

Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of Hallow, the number-one prayer app in the world, says that it's because of this noise that so many of us have lost sight of God.

For many of us, there is so much “to do” that what we “should do” never gets done, and in some form of parasitical relationship, we look to “noise” as a crutch to keep us mindlessly going.

For most, noise may be all we have ever known, and it's so human of us to prefer the disastrous familiar than be receptive to possible change.

CS Lewis, in his phenomenal book, The Screwtape Letters, written from the perspective of a senior demon to an apprentice, states:

“but all has been occupied by Noise—Noise, the grand dynamism, the audible expression of all that is exultant, ruthless, and virile—Noise which alone defends us from silly qualms, despairing scruples, and impossible desires. We will make the whole universe a noise in the end. We have already made great strides in this direction as regards the Earth. The melodies and silences of Heaven will be shouted down in the end. But I admit we are not yet loud enough, or anything like it. Research is in progress.”

While this passage is a bit heavy in its theological underpinnings, it elegantly illustrates the Devil's tactics and preferred method of choice in distracting us: the vile creation of Noise (empty, useless, unintentional sound).

But we can’t blame it all on the devil, as we have also played a part in allowing it to persist, permeate, and compound. So much so that it has evolved in its form and now follows us everywhere we go. It has transfigured itself into a constant state of busyness, and it’s been assisted by the devices plaguing our hands, wrists, and ears.

Dutch clockmaker and Christian writer Corrie ten Boom is often attributed with having said: "If the devil can't make you sin, he will make you busy,". It makes me wonder whether we have allowed noise to drown out our awareness of purpose, if we have become too busy to participate in actual Kingdom work.

This constant blaring we are unwilling to turn off due to the fear of silence is like a leg that has fallen asleep, but we are too scared to wake it up out of fear of the possible shivers of pain. But we don't realize that if our leg stays asleep, then we will never walk properly.

Likewise, if you allow the loudness to increase, then you will never be able to hear the voice of God over the noise.

Ironically, noise has never been more prevalent than in the era of “noise cancellation”. So now, more than ever, we must intentionally seek out quietness.

The encouragement here: Let our lives not be filled with noise, and instead, let us allow more room for silence because it's in those quiet moments you are likely to hear the gentle whisper of the Lord. (1st Kings 19:12)

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As this series inspired from my conversation with Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of Hallow, the number one Prayer app in the world, draws to a close, I encourage us all to remember:

The center of it all, the real roots, lies in Jesus and a relationship with him.
Our prayers don’t need to be perfect to be wonderful, as their power lies not in their words but in the one who listens.
We should stop trying to cram time in our schedule for God but instead realize our schedules should be built around the Lord.

Finally, with this week's article, let us:

Remember, the Devil is in Noise, and we must be intentional about separating ourselves from it to seek the Lord, his love, and his calling.

- Making The Most Of Being Curious

Daniel J. Cuesta

Afterword:

Don’t allow the noise to become overwhelming. If you are looking for a first step, try out the Hallow for free during this lent season at the following link: Hallow

If you are interested in watching the entire discussion with Alex, visit the DC Youtube channel: DanielCuesta007