Ngunit sinabi ni Josue sa mga tao, “Huwag kayong sisigaw o magsasalita man hanggang hindi ko kayo binibigyan ng hudyat.”

Josue 6:10

Sa maingay na mundong ating ginagalawan, sa panahon ng freedom of expression o karapatang magpahayag ng saloobin o nararamdaman, kaya mo bang manahimik sa loob ng pitong araw?  

After crossing the Jordan River on their way to the Promised Land, the Israelites faced the seemingly impenetrable, massive, heavily defended, well-fortified, and three-tier walls of Jericho. Joshua, the newly installed captain of the army, gave unusual tactics and a strange battle plan including trumpets, shouting, and silence. He instructed the people not to shout or say any word while encircling the ten-acre land for six days and six times on the seventh day. Imagine thousands of people surrounding a city without uttering a single word. 

In our walk with God, there are times when God will ask us to be silent and to be still in His presence to listen to His voice, to feel His loving presence, and to deepen our trust in Him. Minsan natatakpan ng ingay ‘yung mga sagot ni Lord sa ating prayers, we miss His answers because we are so talkative and loud. When the Israelites panicked at sabay-sabay na nagreklamo dahil sa paparating na kaaway, Moses told them, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:14, ESV).

In 1939, the United Kingdom government produced the motivational slogan, “Keep Calm and Carry On” in order to boost the morale of its soldiers and people amid airstrikes and land invasion threats by its enemies. This slogan rallied the people until the end of World War II. Likewise, we need to learn to be quiet and stay calm before the Lord whenever we face life’s challenges. Mas makakapag-isip at makakakilos tayo nang tama kung tayo ay tatahimik at magiging kalmado.