THE DISCIPLINE OF STILLNESS

Guided by Her Eminence, Queen Abbess Dr. Patricia Hackshaw

Beloved of God, in the cacophony of modern life, with its relentless demands and endless notifications, our souls are often pulled in a thousand directions, leaving us fragmented and weary. We confuse activity for productivity and noise for presence. Yet, the Word of God issues a gentle, powerful command that seems almost radical in its simplicity: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10).

Her Eminence, Queen Abbess Dr. Patricia Hackshaw, consistently models and teaches the sacred discipline of stillness. This is not merely about physical quiet, but about an inner cessation—a letting go of our need to control, our anxious striving, and our mental clutter. It is in this cultivated stillness that the “knowing” deepens. We move from knowing about God to knowing God Himself, intimately and personally. Stillness is the fertile ground where faith takes root and grows deep.

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The Scriptures are replete with examples of this principle. Elijah did not encounter God in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in a “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). Mary of Bethany chose the “one thing needed” by sitting still at the feet of Jesus, while her sister Martha was distracted by much serving (Luke 10:39-42). Stillness is an act of worship. It declares that God is God, and we are not. We acknowledge that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and that our rest is found in Him alone (Matthew 11:28-30).

I encourage you, therefore, to intentionally create a sanctuary of stillness in your day. Even for a few minutes, turn off the screens, quiet the internal dialogue, and simply be present with the Lord. Do not come with a long list of requests, but come to adore. Breathe deeply and rest in the truth of His presence. In the stillness, you will rediscover your true identity as a beloved child of God, not a human doing, but a human being. In the quiet, He will speak. In the stillness, you will know.

Amen.