Shhh… The Power of Exercising Your Right to Remain Silent

Kathryn Baker
Sep 21, 2025
3 min read

When we hear the phrase, “You have the right to remain silent,” our minds almost instantly picture a scene from a police drama, where someone is being read their Miranda rights. This phrase is rooted in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, designed to protect individuals from self-incrimination. The warning is clear: “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

But what if I told you that this right—the right to remain silent—is not only for those caught in legal trouble, but for every single one of us, every single day? What if, outside of courtrooms and interrogation rooms, this right is actually a gift we’re not using nearly enough?

The Forgotten Power of Silence

As citizens, we are not under any obligation to offer our opinions, advice, or commentary on every situation we encounter. Yet, in our culture, there is a relentless push to “speak up,” “voice your opinion,” and “make yourself heard” on every injustice, every issue, and every moment—no matter how small. Speaking up absolutely has its place, and there are certainly times when our voices are needed for truth and justice. But I’d like to submit to you that, just as important, is the discipline of remaining silent.

Must we voice our opinions about everything? Is every silence a void crying out to be filled with our words?

I am convinced that we talk too much. I am convinced that we do not hear well, simply because we do not practice the biblical admonition to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (James 1:19, NIV). Our culture encourages noise, not quiet. But what might we gain if we reclaimed our right to simply be silent?

The Value of Quiet

When we speak more than we should, we lose something precious: the quiet needed to think, to reflect, to grow into who we truly are. Every time we engage in conversation, we open the “ear gates” of our hearts and minds, allowing not just our words, but the thoughts and opinions of others to take root in us. Conversation is a beautiful thing, but unfiltered, constant conversation can drown out the quiet voice within.

The external practice of silence—choosing to “Shhh”—can have a profound effect on our internal state. Silence provides space for our souls to breathe, for our minds to process, and for God’s gentle whisper to be heard above the fray.

Biblical Wisdom on Silence

Scripture is rich with encouragement to value silence and watch our words:

Proverbs 17:27-28 (NIV): “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
Ecclesiastes 3:7 (NIV): “…a time to be silent and a time to speak.”
Psalm 46:10 (NIV): “Be still, and know that I am God.”
James 1:19 (NIV): “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Proverbs 10:19 (NIV): “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”

These verses remind us that silence isn’t weakness or avoidance—it is wisdom. It’s spiritual discipline. It’s space for God to work, heal, and guide.

The Challenge: Be Intentionally Quiet

This week, I challenge you to exercise your right to remain silent—not because you have something to hide, but because you have something to protect: your peace, your clarity, your relationship with God, and your ability to listen deeply to those around you.

The next time you’re tempted to fill the silence with your opinion, pause and pray instead.
When you feel the urge to respond immediately, give yourself the gift of a moment’s quiet.
Notice what happens inside you when you give yourself permission to be silent.

Allow silence to be the fertile ground where your thoughts can grow, where you can hear God’s voice above the noise, and where you can truly listen—to yourself, to others, and to God.

Shhh… Let’s be intentionally quiet this week. Let’s rediscover the strength, the wisdom, and the peace that can only be found in silence.

Coach

Kathryn