October 2, 2026
Have you ever seen those so-called “noise-reducing” walls that line the expressway? I see them along the highway every day on my drive to work from Jefferson down I-85.
My grandkids have noise-reducing headphones they use mostly to block out the sound of thunder. Personally, I think I’m the one that needs the noise-reducing headphones but that’s a different story. So they are well aware of what the “wall” is for. However, they are quite mystified by the doors that are strategically placed along the wall.
I’ll admit they do look a little strange. Every time we pass by them the girls will take guesses on what the purpose of the doors is and what is behind them. They have suggested there are bathrooms behind them, people living behind them, trolls, playgrounds, wild animals, and the list goes on and on. In reality, I do think they serve a purpose and none of the ones that the girls have suggested.
However, I have never seen any of the doors open and neither have they. Their curiosity about the closed door leads their imagination to run wild, and I’m sure there is nothing exciting or entertaining behind those doors.
It started me thinking about noise reduction, especially in my own life and mind. The wall’s purpose is to block out the noise from the traffic of cars or the sirens of emergency vehicles so that these sounds do not disrupt the houses and businesses behind the wall.
I can’t imagine living or working close to the expressway without the wall, the sounds would probably be so very distracting. I’m also sure the strategically placed doors are closed for a very good reason. If they were open, it would probably not only allow the noise to filter out but also be extremely dangerous as people and wildlife would have close access to the expressway. That would be very distracting, not to mention dangerous.
I don’t know about you but my mind and thought process can be very distracting, which at times can also be dangerous. Some days the enemy attacks my mind through intimidation that can squelch my motivation.
At other times the enemy attacks me via anxiety, sometimes paralyzing anxiety. Anxiety can keep you from being able to make decisions or even think rationally.
Some days the enemy places lies in my mind. Entertaining those lies is a huge danger. There are so many ways the enemy attacks me through my thought process.
His desire is to cripple me, but then there is God. God allows me the opportunity for noise reduction. His Word, His people, His love, and His Truth can all be used as my wall to block out all the noise.
Scripture is my best defense. If I guard my mind, I build the noise-reducing wall. It’s not something I have to do once or twice a day, but continually because somewhere throughout my day that little strategically placed door might be open just enough to let some of that noise filter through.
Is it hard to keep that door closed and the noise reduced? Just like the girls’ curiosity about the closed door, the enemy entices me to let my guard down, entertain the thoughts and open the door. I have to slam that door shut every time it cracks open and I hear the noise of the enemy.
One of my favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:8: “Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
The truth is the enemy is NOT true, NOT honorable, NOT right, NOT pure, NOT lovely, NOT of good repute and definitely doesn’t have anything excellent or worthy of praise.
I have a choice, to believe the enemy or rest in the words of my Father. It seems like an easy choice, but if I have that door open even a crack, I give the enemy access to work in my mind.
Today, as many times as it takes, I am going to build the wall, block the noise, bar the door, bind the enemy, and believe my Father. What about you?
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Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and Georgian. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
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