A sacred pause

A goal I’ve made for myself this year is to spend more time reading the Bible. As a leader of worship, I want to participate in other forms of worship besides music, and I’ve especially wanted to use Scripture as inspiration as we prepare for the season of Lent. Recently, I’ve been spending time in the Psalms and have found a lot of comfort in verses like Psalm 3:3–4 which says, “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah.”

I’ve seen the word “selah” many times before, but never thought much about it. At one point, I was told it functioned somewhat like punctuation, so I accepted that and moved on. When I encountered it again recently, I became curious and decided to look deeper into its meaning. Many scholars believe selah is an invitation to pause and reflect — to stop and consider what has just been said. It suggests a sacred pause where the listener or reader slows down and allows truth to settle into the heart.

I love this idea, especially during Lent. Lent offers us a similar sacred pause. It is a season that gently interrupts our usual pace and invites us to reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross and resurrection. In this intentional slowing, we can be reminded of Hillspring’s call to Live — to pursue life as God intends. Like selah, Lent creates space for us to notice where God is at work, rediscover our place in His story, and intentionally join Him through prayer and repentance.

The concept of selah also encourages us to be present with God and with one another, which beautifully reflects Hillspring’s vision to Love and Grow. When we pause, we create room to nurture authentic relationships — with God, who meets us in stillness, and with others, as shared spiritual practices draw us into deeper community. Lent invites us to develop habits that shape our lives, such as prayer, Bible study, and generosity, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us. In these rhythms, we are not simply pausing for reflection; we are being changed.

Pastor Bryan often talks about adding something meaningful to your life during Lent rather than focusing only on giving something up. This year, I would encourage you to consider adding a sense of selah — creating intentional space to pause, listen, and reflect on God’s presence in your life.

Blessings,
Kelsey Lowe
Worship Producer and Operations Coordinator