15 February | Youth
«Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.» Mark 1:35
According to the Guinness Book, the quietest place in the world is room B87 (or Building 87) at Microsoft's headquarters in Washington. It is a small anechoic chamber built in the center of six thick layers of concrete, created to test the noise of new electronic devices. The silence in this room reaches a record -20.6 decibels in intensity, surpassed only by the vacuum, where there is no sound propagation. In room B87, the silence is so great that you can hear your blood flowing through your veins and also the movement of your bone joints.
Nowadays, many people do not like quiet places. For them, the absence of sound brings anxiety and agitation. Maybe you are one of them and cannot study or sleep without hearing some type of sound. In this busy world, noise has been incorporated into human existence as a soundtrack to calm our internal turmoil. We are afraid of silence because we fear the cry of our own soul.
Yet, while he was here on Earth, Jesus demonstrated that he was a friend of silence. He often sought out deserted places to pray and meditate. The sun never met Him without Him having gone through moments of silent prayer. Thus, our Savior found strength and power to carry out His work throughout the day.
It is interesting to note that the noun “solitary” in the Hebrew language is midbar, which can also mean “action of speaking,” “organ of speech” or “tongue.” This shows a paradox. It is precisely in the place of silence that God most often speaks! It is in the break from routine, in quiet times, that the Lord speaks to our hearts. Ellen White wrote: “When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ ” (Mind, Character and Personality, v. 1, p. 11).
Do you want some advice today? Choose a time, go to your room, close the door and pray to the Lord. In this place of silence, your “B87”, you will hear God’s answers.