Media Alert!
October 2025
Blog #71
Sue Summers
MediaSavvyKids.org
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV)
Silence in a Noisy World
We wake up with the alarm, turn on the TV or radio or search the news on our phone. We check our emails and voice messages – all before we even get out of bed.
The noise of the world invades our day, even when we have just awakened… but it’s our choice. We have succumbed to the myth that silence is awkward, unsettling, maybe even laziness, and without merit.
But what if we have a profound need in our lives and we don’t even realize it? What’s needed is time to think, remember, contemplate, imagine, reflect, ponder, review, and, most important of all – commune with the Almighty Father. That’s right: Pray. Yet even our prayer life can be noisy and one-directional… we’re busy speaking, requesting, or perhaps even appreciating God’s magnificence, but rarely taking time to listen: Listening in silence to the Creator Himself. As Psalm 46:10 teaches, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Consider the daily lives of teens in today’s culture. They have accepted this noisy world as the reality of life itself, often needing music or a podcast to fall asleep. They wear headsets or earbuds almost continually. Noise is the soundtrack of their lives – a soundtrack accentuated by the pings of texts or social media notifications. The response to those stimuli is a perfect example of famous physiologist Ivan Pavlov’s discovery of classical conditioning.
“Ivan Pavlov found that by associating the sound of a bell with the presentation of food, dogs would begin to drool whenever they heard the bell. Pavlov’s dog experiments played a critical role in the discovery of one of the most important concepts in psychology: Classical conditioning, sometimes called Pavlovian conditioning.” (www.verywellmind.com/pavlovs-dogs-2794989)
Where can a teen find quiet? Family time rarely allows silence or quiet moments. Chatter, music, the TV playing in the background even if no one is watching, and the radio or podcasts playing in the car – all prove the myth that silence equals anxiety or discomfort.
“In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, silence is becoming an increasingly rare commodity. Between the constant hum of technology, the chatter of social media, and the demands of our busy lives, noise seems to follow us everywhere. Yet, amid this noise, there’s a profound need for silence. More than just a break from sound, silence holds the potential power to heal both the mind and body, offering a sanctuary of calm in a chaotic world.” (www.lisacaretti.com/the-healing-power-of-silence-in-a-noisy-world)
What are we missing by tolerating the noise contagion of our culture? It’s not just healing or respite. We’re missing a still small voice, the voice of the Holy Spirit attempting to direct our lives and give us needed guidance and comfort.
What can we do to escape the noise?
“The first step toward silence is recognizing the noise for what it is: a thief of clarity. Modern life is a cacophony of distractions—social media feeds, breaking news alerts, the hum of a culture obsessed with being heard. To be silent begins with subtraction. Turn off the notifications that fragment your attention.” (https://timdraayer.substack.com/p/the-art-of-silence-in-a-noisy-world)
So how can we help teens become media-savvy about the culture that surrounds them?
First and foremost, children and teens learn by example and follow the patterns they experience at home. Set time each day to remove the distractions and hum of extraneous noise and allow silence to be seen as “normal” and comfortable. Here are a few discussion starters to bring the importance of this topic to the forefront of everyone’s thinking.
• Ask, “How do you feel when it is absolutely quiet? Think of a time when you were in the woods, perhaps, or sitting alone in your room without any distractions. What was that like? Was that uncomfortable or did you enjoy the experience?”
• Ask, “Have you ever noticed how noisy our world is? Do you feel comforted by the noise, unsettled by the noise, or something in-between?”
• Ask, “Does it seem awkward or uncomfortable if no one is talking when you are with your friends? How do you react?”
• Share, “We have adjusted to the noisy environment in our everyday life. Some other cultures accept silence as normal. Does that idea appeal to you? Why or why not?”
Share, “Let’s read and discuss this scripture:
‘The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.’” 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (The Message)
• Share, “Can you think of some suggestions for how we could simplify our lives and remove some of the ‘noise’?”
• Share, “Often when we pray, we spend all of the time talking. If prayer is conversation, we need to leave a space for listening. Let’s start incorporating quiet time into our prayers.”
• Note: Share this blog with your church’s youth pastor as a lesson for youth group gatherings.
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Sue Summers is a Christian media analyst, teacher, author, and speaker.
She is the Director of Media Alert!
Contact Info:
Blogs: MediaSavvyKids.org
Website: http://www.MediaAlert.org
Email: Sue@MediaAlert.org
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