Yes, I have very little voice. Please pray it returns very soon!!
Having no voice, however, has reminded me of the first four verses of Psalm 19.
“The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.”
The Psalmist seems to be saying we don’t need to use our voice to declare God’s glory. Although singing is one of my favorite ways to honor God, apparently all it takes is to look around to hear the grandeur of nature, the joy of children, heartfelt thanks for wisdom we have gained over our lifetimes, and the simple joy of silence as we use our other senses to become aware of God’s presence.
Revelation 21:3 declares:
“See, the home of God is among mortals. God will dwell with them; they will be God’s peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” As spring blooms all around us, we see nature telling the glory of God. And… as Revelation reminds us, God dwells with us, around us, even within us—in our silence and our speaking, in our actions and our resting.
I’ll admit it’s hard for me to not talk, but it is the best thing to do when one has laryngitis (along with soothing honey lemon tea and a doctor’s visit). Even though keeping silent is challenging, it encourages in me a new level of awareness. In moments of quiet, I am able to notice things I may have missed before—subtle details, gentle sounds, and the presence of others in ways words cannot capture. Silence, though initially uncomfortable, opens the door to reflection and deeper appreciation of the world around me.
The heavens proclaim God’s glory, the skies announce God’s handiwork—all without a single word or sound.
How can we follow their example?
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Julie
Having no voice, however, has reminded me of the first four verses of Psalm 19.
“The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.”
The Psalmist seems to be saying we don’t need to use our voice to declare God’s glory. Although singing is one of my favorite ways to honor God, apparently all it takes is to look around to hear the grandeur of nature, the joy of children, heartfelt thanks for wisdom we have gained over our lifetimes, and the simple joy of silence as we use our other senses to become aware of God’s presence.
Revelation 21:3 declares:
“See, the home of God is among mortals. God will dwell with them; they will be God’s peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” As spring blooms all around us, we see nature telling the glory of God. And… as Revelation reminds us, God dwells with us, around us, even within us—in our silence and our speaking, in our actions and our resting.
I’ll admit it’s hard for me to not talk, but it is the best thing to do when one has laryngitis (along with soothing honey lemon tea and a doctor’s visit). Even though keeping silent is challenging, it encourages in me a new level of awareness. In moments of quiet, I am able to notice things I may have missed before—subtle details, gentle sounds, and the presence of others in ways words cannot capture. Silence, though initially uncomfortable, opens the door to reflection and deeper appreciation of the world around me.
The heavens proclaim God’s glory, the skies announce God’s handiwork—all without a single word or sound.
How can we follow their example?
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Julie
