By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength. (Is. 30:15)

God is never heard as a clanging gong nor a clanging cymbal. God speaks the language of silence, almost in a whisper. He can be heard in our prayer time in the quiet of our hearts. To those whose ear is attuned to His wisdom, He can be heard amid the noise of this world, loud and clear even when there is dead silence.

To those who seek Him, they will find Him. To those who ask, they will receive. To those who knock, the door will be opened to them. Time alone with Our Lord Jesus Christ in prayer is essential for our growth. Retreats help us to pause and listen, learn, and then share what God has spoken to us.

It seems to me that this time of quarantine or stay-cation as I like to call it, can be a time used well by focusing on the most important things in life: faith and family. It can be a time to repent, as our sins and faults rise to the surface.

All family members under one roof, day after day and all through the night, may be too much closeness for comfort. To top it off, everyone brings along their personalities and we bring ours too. This togetherness can help to rub off the rough edges of our lives. We secretly begin to think about titling this season, "How to Love a Porcupine." We all have one nerve left and everyone else is getting on it. Finger pointing may become the norm as tempers flare.

Let us ask ourselves, have we used our time wisely? Have we found our hiding place in Him when we are sad or lonely, when we are angry or want to despair? In Him we live and move and have our being!

What is God saying to you? Have you grown closer to your family members, personalities and all? Have you spent time with them by really being present, learning new things together, making great meals, and enjoying family entertainment?

Before the virus started, God called me to birth "Take 5," a series of five-minute podcasts meant to sow seeds for God's Kingdom. It was midway into Lent that I began to see my Heavenly Father's hand upon this work. When Lent ended, I continued the "Take 5" podcasts. It was a blessing in disguise as it helped me grow as much as it might help the listeners. It can be found on YouTube.

I listen for His still small voice, read the scripture He has put on my heart, and then tell a story about God using it in my life. I have wanted to do this for a long time but never had the time. God provided time in abundance. "Take 5" has become the highlight of my day! I encourage you to check it out.

When we take a pause from the everyday routine in life we can bear fruit. The busy-ness of everyday life and over commitment that sneaks up on us may become evident. When we eliminate distraction and, focus on Him, soon we will be in tune with the Holy Spirit.

What might seem like death to your old life, may bring about a new life. Unless a seed falls to the ground, it does not produce fruit.

A friend, Debbie, shared a quote that fits my point perfectly, maybe it was a joke. Isaac Newton was sent home from Cambridge during the plague. While there, he invented calculus. It ended with, "How bored do you have to be to invent calculus?"

What is God calling you to do?

Ellen Mongan is a Christian writer and speaker and the founder of Little Pink Dress Ministry. She is the host of WOW MOM podcast on YouTube and blogs for Catholic Mom and Women of Grace. Email her at wowellen@yahoo.com.