Finding God in the Quiet

The back-to-school rush always hits like a wave out of nowhere. When I homeschooled I was overwhelmed with all I had to do to get ready. When my kids went to a school building, I was shocked by the number of forms to fill out, supplies to buy, and activities. It is a month that seems to get run over by to-do lists, even now that my kids are grown. It’s hard to find God in the quiet when quiet doesn’t seem to exist.

There’s excitement, but there’s also a weariness underneath it all. It is hard to stop and live out Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Stillness feels like a luxury some days. But more and more, I’m realizing it’s not optional. It’s survival. It’s worship.

REST—Release Everything, Surrender Totally

That’s the kind of rest I’ve had to learn, the kind I keep learning every time my plans fall apart or my energy runs out. Rest isn’t just about naps or days off. It’s a posture of heart—a willingness to stop striving, to stop explaining, to stop clenching everything so tightly, and simply let God be God.

In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was a command, but it was also a gift. A holy rhythm set by a God who knew our tendency to overwork and under-trust. In Exodus, God tells His people to rest, even during the plowing and harvesting seasons (Exodus 34:21). Even then. Because if we wait until it’s convenient to stop, we never will. Can you relate? There is always one more thing that needs done. But Sabbath was never about earning rest—it was about remembering who holds it all together.

Jesus reminded us of that. He said the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). Rest isn’t a restriction—it’s a restoration. It reminds us that we are not God. That the world doesn’t spin because we work harder, but because HE is faithful.

And yet, I forget.

I make excuses. I say I’ll rest when the work is done. But the work is never done. And then consider what we call “rest”. Scrolling mindlessly. Numb to what I’m doing or seeing. I delay the pause because I fear the stillness. I fear what it might reveal.

In the stillness, God speaks.

Not always with thunder, but sometimes with something simple like an idea that saves $50, a neighbor dropping off dinner when I’m at my limit, or a solution to a problem that thinking and worrying never solved. He comes into the quiet moments when I’ve run out of me.

And that’s when I feel His presence most clearly. Not when I’m conquering my to-do list, but when I’ve set it down.

I started a simple practice this year. While I get dressed, I listen to the Bible. I let the Word fill the background while I’m brushing my hair or putting on makeup. And then I stay quiet for 5 or 10 minutes after. No music. No apps or videos or news or weather. I just remain quiet and as the Holy Spirit to help me understand what God is saying in those verses.

I have gained a lot more peace by doing this. I’ve had solutions to issues. And sometimes I just remember other times God has come through for me in a difficult time.

The Spirit speaks quietly to quiet, available hearts. Not always dramatically—but always faithfully.

Rest is Trust

When I pause, I declare with my life that I believe Romans 8:28. I especially do this when everything looks like it’s falling apart. This summer has been an incredibly difficult one and hasn’t gone at all as I thought or planned. I was at a breaking place recently and as I picked at my dinner the solution was suddenly THERE. I just knew what to do. A couple of questions to 3 different people and what looked impossible was solved in 10 minutes.

When reality screams “you’re behind,” but God’s truth says, “I will provide,” I choose to rest.
When I feel like I’m losing ground, I remember: I’m never losing anything God intends to keep.

So as the school year begins, as the calendar fills up, as the pace of life quickens again—I’m holding on to the sacred quiet and rest. I’m making room for silence. I’m reminding myself that rest isn’t laziness. It’s obedience. It’s worship. And most of all, it’s wisdom.

And I invite you to do the same.

This week, carve out just 5–10 minutes a day. Turn off the noise. Open the Word. Be still. Let your thoughts settle and ask God to speak. Journal what you hear, even if it’s just one sentence.

You may be surprised how much He says in the quiet.

May we be people who Release Everything, Surrender Totally.
And in that surrender, may we find the deep, steady rest only HE can give.

About Tiffany Colter

Tiffany Colter is a Christian writer, business strategist, and mentor who has spent more than two decades guiding others through life’s transitions with faith and purpose. Whether through homeschooling her children, coaching writers and entrepreneurs, or writing words that point people back to hope, she believes deeply in the power of everyday obedience to transform lives. Her heart beats for helping others live boldly in their calling—rooted in truth, anchored in grace.

If you’re looking for encouragement in your business, your parenting journey, or your writing life, Tiffany offers practical support through her Substacks:
 Learning Resources Online – for entrepreneurs and freelancers
Writing Career Coach – for writers and authors
Building the Balanced Life – for those juggling business, caregiving, and calling

Decision Tree Learning – For homeschoolers as well as teachers and parents

Let’s grow something lasting—together.