Reflections (Part 3): Above The Noise
Photo credit: Aaron Burden Photography
Needless noise
It’s probably safe to assume that we’re living in the noisiest time in all of human history. When you combine the volume of normal life with the never-ending, “breaking news” world we live in, it’s no wonder we “can’t hear ourselves think”.
With a beep-beep here & a buzz-buzz there, it’s like we’re stuck inside a possessed version of the Old MacDonald Had A Farm song. If only there was some off-the-wall, animal-voice impression out there to depict all the annoying noises of your life…
Maybe then, we’d find some comedic relief.
As funny as it can be, let’s face it, the reality of the situation is no joke. There’s no turning off the noise entirely, but we still have to recognize where to draw the line. And better yet, understand why. In Mark 5:21-43 (MSG), we find a story that reveals those answers.
“In the story, there’s a man (Jairus) who’s in the most desperate of situations. His young daughter is on her deathbed, with no hope of survival. So Jairus seeks out a man named Jesus, and pleads with Him to come & heal his daughter. Jesus leaves at once to go see the dying girl.
As they make their way to Jairus’ home, they come up on a “commotion of crying & wailing”. Jesus reassures the people that the girl isn’t dead, but they proceed to mockingly laugh in His face. We’re then told that Jesus put them [the crowd] out and went on to heal the young girl, rescuing her from death.”
Despite everything going on, Jesus never lost sight of why He was at Jairus’ home. He was there for good reason, He was there to help someone in need. And when Jesus recognized the needless noise (the commotion of the crowd) for what it was—
He got rid of it.
Truthfully, we all have a noise issue of our own. There’s something, maybe even someone, that’s crowding out the good that’s supposed to be taking place in your life right now. You have to respect the fact that your mind is a delicate place. There’s limited seating, and not everything gets a seat.
Philippians 4:7 (NHEB) says:
“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
If you feel like you’re dealing with some needless noise right now, ask yourself, where have you let your guard down? God has given you exactly what you need to ensure the noise doesn’t take up residence in your heart & mind. When you refuse to fall to the level of the noise, you’re at your best. And you’re at your best—
when your mind’s at rest.
3 thoughts to stay on your guard
#1: BE MINDFUL
Some of the things that start out harmless or even helpful, end up being the most hurtful at the end of the day. There’s nothing wrong with reevaluating a given situation, especially when those situations are littered with red flags.
Am I still doing the right thing in helping this person/trying to solve this problem?
OR
Have I left the door open and invited some needless noise into my life?
Simply put—
It may be time to shut the door.
#2: BE SELECTIVE
Too much of anything can be a bad thing. Drinking water is obviously good. But you can also drink to the point of drowning. We live in the “information age”, which again, is a good thing. But don’t think for a second that excess information doesn’t carry its’ own consequences.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 (MSG) says:
“One handful of peaceful[ness] is better than two fistfuls of worried work…”
Much of the information that comes our way may be labeled as “news”, but that doesn’t mean it’s newsworthy. Just as filters are used on our water, our emails, and everything in between—
it’s wise to keep a filter on our minds.
#3: BE METHODICAL
When we recognize that things aren’t exactly as they should be, it’s tempting to think we need to overhaul everything. But often times, the best way to reshape the “big picture” is to attack it one piece of the puzzle at a time. Regarding our calling, Jesus said the following in Matthew 10:40 (MSG):
“This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small…”
If the task at hand seems too big, be reminded that God has done the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to. The idea isn’t to do it all, it’s to give your all. One area at a time. One day at a time. One life—
given to the one who gave it all.
a different decibel
How foolish would we feel if we came to understand that we know so much about what’s going on in the world, but we’re blind to what’s happening in our own backyard? In the lives of our family? Our friends? What if we’re missing the boat entirely on what God’s trying to say today?
The noise of this world can be deafening. Like a famine of locusts, it eats away all that’s good & worth really listening to. In our story, the man (Jairus) was told by the crowd “not to bother the teacher [Jesus], because his daughter was already dead.” Overhearing the talk, Jesus interrupts & says to the man:
“Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”
Jesus is telling you the very same thing. Don’t listen to the noise, trust Him. Believe in Him. Live by faith. Keep listening for His voice. God is always speaking, and He’s always found—
Above the noise.
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today’s Takeaways
You’re at your best when your mind’s at rest.
talk may be cheap but the cost of listening to it is great.
What is jesus saying to you today?