Finding God’s Peace in the Sounds of Nature

As I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to realize something about myself — something I never noticed in my younger years as a sports coach and adventure leader.

I am very sensory sensitive.

I don’t enjoy loud, harsh sounds or bright, glaring lights. I find that certain smells — the chemical or artificial kind — seem to linger longer than they should. And background noise, like a television left on in another room or music with no rhythm to my spirit, wears me down faster than I’d like to admit.

My sense of hearing and smell, in particular, seem heightened. And in an increasingly noisy world, that can feel like a strange burden to carry.

Yet, what fascinates me is this: despite my sensitivity to noise, I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by the laughter and shouting of children in the outdoors. Camps, sports fields, adventure trails, canoe trips — these are not quiet places!

I once mentioned this irony to a mentor — an older, wiser friend who’s walked with the Lord much longer than me. He smiled and said, “That’s because those sounds are different. The laughter of a child is part of God’s music. The revving of a car engine is definitely not.”

He was absolutely right. The sounds of the outdoors are not the same as the noise of the world evolving in technology and industry. An excited child laughing, the rustle of wind through the trees, the rhythm of a paddle dipping into water — these sounds form a symphony that speaks of life and joy, not man-made chaos.

Birds singing, rivers running, trees shaking, insects chirping, kids laughing, the kicking and knocking of sports equipment — these are the sounds that bring peace to my spirit and energy to my body.

Over the years, I’ve realized that I am most alive when I’m surrounded by God’s art — the masterpiece He painted in trees and rivers, in open skies and mountain air, in laughter and learning.

The man-made world, with its constant motion and manufactured sounds, drains me. But God’s world restores me. It reminds me that I was never meant to live surrounded by static and neon — I was meant to live surrounded by creation, in fellowship, learning and teaching under open skies.

I’ve learned that peace doesn’t always come from silence. Sometimes, peace comes from the right kind of sound: the kind that reminds you of who made the world, and what you were made for.

I love helping families and young people discover how faith comes alive when we step outside and move. Whether it’s through a muddy game, a shared hike, or a quiet moment under the trees, I’ve seen how God uses the outdoors to shape hearts and strengthen relationships.

At OutdoorKids.Faith I share stories and resources designed to spark that same joy — simple, practical ways to grow closer to God and each other through adventure and activities.

@ Rory Wilson