Noises from downstairs filled my bedroom as I sat down to start my quiet time. Getting up to shut my door, I sighed heavily. Honestly, shutting my door didn’t make my room much quieter.
How am I supposed to concentrate on Your Word with all this racket? I can’t pray with all these distractions, God. The noise is too loud for me to think!
Perhaps you can relate to my experience. Maybe you live in a cramped dorm room where your roommate frequently blares her music. Or maybe you have a baby brother who cries constantly. Or maybe you live in a big city where the traffic outside your room is insanely loud. I understand that it can be hard to have a quiet time in a busy or noisy atmosphere, but there are some practical ways to handle the distractions:
1. Learn to Accept the Chaos
One thing I always try to remember is that my quiet time won’t be perfect because this world isn’t perfect. There are going to be distractions, noises, and chaos. That’s okay! We can rest in the fact that Jesus still wants us to spend time with Him—even if that time is slightly noisy.
2. Learn to Be Patient
Know that your loud roommate, sibling, or neighborhood probably isn’t trying to distract you from your quiet time. As I mentioned, distractions are just part of life. However, it could be a good idea to ask the people around you to give you some space and quietness as you spend time with God, as long as you do it politely and patiently.
3. Learn to Be Creative
The options are endless when it comes to quiet time spots. You can try doing it in your bedroom, car, living room, kitchen, or even outside. Be willing to try new locations and even new times of the day to avoid some noise.
4. Learn to Eliminate Avoidable Distractions
Your phone, laptop, TV, and/or pets may be making your quiet time unnecessarily distracting. I’m guilty of keeping my phone nearby—and constantly checking it—while I’m doing my quiet time. But I recommend keeping all possible distractions in another room as you spend time with God.
Final Thoughts
Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. (Matthew 14:13-14 NASB1995)
After Jesus heard that his cousin John had been beheaded, He wanted to spend some time alone—but He couldn’t escape for long. The crowds followed Him! They wanted Him to heal them, and He did exactly that. This passage can encourage us to spend time alone (with God) but not to neglect the people around us.
Thankfully, there are practical ways to handle distractions when we spend time with God, but not every distraction is avoidable. So no matter how loud or chaotic life gets, we need to maintain the habit of reading the Bible and praying. God doesn’t need absolute silence to work in our hearts, but He does want us to keep coming to Him.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 