If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.—Exodus 23:22 (NIV)

We’re in the middle of an Indiana cicada summer. The flying beasts are everywhere—and they’re loud. While I can appreciate the miracle of their seventeen-year hatch cycle, I wish they had a little self-awareness and stopped offering so much unsolicited input. 

The world can be a noisy place, and I’m not just talking about bugs. I’m bombarded with sensory overload as opinions, beliefs, and ideas zoom my way and dive-bomb me out of nowhere, much like those noisy cicadas. 

Processing the constant flow of information from the media, social media, and even conversations with friends or family can be especially difficult when I sense mixed motives behind someone’s words. The noise can spin my thoughts, stir confusion, and leave me feeling off-balance. 

The enemy of my soul is noisy too. When he can’t derail me with obvious lies or overt tactics, he works overtime in covert, subversive ways that I may not recognize right away. In the cacophony of chaos, I can be caught off guard. 

It’s easy to forget that I was created to thrive in peace and truth. One of my favorite steadying habits is to intentionally make time for quiet. I slip away from the television, my phone, and my family to find a secluded spot to be still with Jesus. Only when I sit in His presence do I find that nothing bugs me—not even those persistent cicadas.

Faith Step: Stillness isn’t easy to find in life’s busyness. Be intentional and schedule a time to be still as you would any other priority.