How to Survive a Toxic Ministry Situation (Part 7 of 7)

14)    Embrace Silence: Finally, don’t be afraid of silence. I used to dread it.  The emotional wounds of my toxic scenario caused a continual thirst for noise.   This meant that I always had to be doing something, going somewhere, hanging around other people, have the radio/TV on, music, FaceBook, etc....   Anything and everything to keep me from focusing on what was going on inside my heart.  If I could be distracted I knew I wouldn’t have to deal with the issues in my heart.  This is never healthy.   Embracing silence is essential in the healing process.  A safe place to heal will always include this element (see principle #13).   This is the language that God uses to talk to the heart.  When our surroundings finally become still God will speak clearly and directly to our souls.  In cultivating stillness we find the peace of God again.  

I can't overemphasize how important the peace of God is in the healing process.  Obviously, scripture is very clear on this point too.  Philippians 4 develops this thought to include peace as protection for the heart and mind.  Obviously, there is a direct connection between the peace of God and emotional stability.   Peace soon produces tranquility and the overall sense of Shalaom. In short, peace is the empire or referee of the soul. It determines what is allowed in and out of the heart.   Find someone in emotional turmoil and invariably you will find someone who has lost touch with God's peace.  

The other great thing about peace is that it is the element necessary for hearing God's voice.  Until peace is restored to our emotions it is almost impossible to hear God's voice clearly.  Practice peace, the Shalaom of God and you will be well on your way to finding God's voice.  And when His voice speaks, the process for healing will be well underway.  

In my case, I had an apartment on the eighth floor of a rather large building. I would turn on two fans in the living room to drown out all ambient noise and lay on my facing listening for the heartbeat of heaven.  In the silence I found myself again. And more importantly, I found Him again.  God’s voice reminded me of my calling, purpose, identity, and destiny.  I spent many hours on the living room floor recovering from the toxins in my soul.  The good news is that God totally healed me.  If He did it for me, He will do it for you.  You don't have to be another victim of a toxic ministry situation.  You can be a victor, an overcomer, used mightily of God to minister to other people walking through similar situations.