The Strength of Stillness

Quiet Strength in a Loud World

“Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; 

the prudent quietly shrug off insults.” 

 Proverbs 12:16, MSG

One afternoon, I sat in my father’s office at Christian Medical College (CMC) Hospital, Vellore—a place that pulses with urgency, compassion, and thousands of lives intersecting daily. As Director of this 3,000-bed institution, my father carried immense responsibility. Amid the pressure of overseeing such a vast institution, my father maintained an “open-door policy.” Anyone could book a time to speak with him—whether to share a concern, a complaint, or simply a word of encouragement.Yet what struck me that day wasn’t his authority, but his calm.

A patient burst in, visibly upset, shouting about his treatment. The tirade was long and loud. But my father never flinched. He listened—silently, respectfully. When the man finished, my father gently thanked him, assured him the matter would be addressed, and promised to follow up.

I watched in awe.

It would’ve been easy to snap back or defend the system. But he chose a different way—the way of Proverbs 12:16. Fools explode; the wise absorb. He knew that anger often masks fear or pain. His restraint wasn’t weakness—it was strength wrapped in wisdom and humility.

Jesus modeled this, too. He stood silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7). He didn’t return insult for insult but entrusted Himself to the Father (1 Peter 2:23).

In a world that glorifies quick comebacks and loud opinions, the Spirit calls us to quiet grace. You may not lead a hospital, but you carry the same choice—to react or respond, to flare up or walk in peace.

Prayer:

Lord, when I’m tempted to react, give me the strength to be still. Teach me the power of listening, the wisdom of gentleness, and the beauty of quiet strength.Amen.