Be Still

It was only Wednesday, and it had already been a rough week.

Each day had been busy, and a mind-numbing headache had eaten up the biggest chunk of writing time I had planned. A project requiring hours of work had just been dropped in my lap, and on top of all that, some family drama had suddenly exploded, leaving me overwhelmed in its emotional aftermath.

I felt more sympathy than ever for Paul’s description:

“without were fightings, within were fears.” (2 Corinthians 7:5)

After school, I picked up some food and headed to my usual writing place, a parking lot where I could enjoy the beautiful view of a small lake.

This particular afternoon, it was warm and sunny, but with just the right amount of clouds to keep it from being too bright.

A few people were standing, cameras raised, near a group of geese someone had just been feeding. The geese typically draw quite a bit of attention, but I drove carefully past them and pulled into my usual spot, where the songbirds like to sit in the fir trees and sing to each other.

Leaning my head against the windowsill, I looked out across the water, ruffled into gentle, rippling waves by the breeze. I let my mind drift, trying to relax and prepare for the evening ahead.

It was all so beautiful: the yellow irises near the water which had just burst out into bloom, the rattle of dry leaves scuttering across the pavement, the songbirds calling across the treetops, even the geese honking in the distance.

Slowly, I began to feel I could think again. I had been silently talking to God as my thoughts drifted here and there processing the week with all its trials and emotions. Suddenly, the phrase “be still” welled up in my heart.

I realized that was why I felt better. I had finally taken time to be still.

I typed the phrase into the search bar of my Bible app and began to read all the verses I could find about being still, letting them soak into my soul and soothe my weary heart.

“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” (Psalm 4:4)

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

“And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39)

The common thread of these passages is being still, calm, and at peace. This only happens when we take time to be still before the Lord, resting in Who He is.

That morning, I had spent time with God, but rushed through it, focusing on my agenda, praying for all the matters I pray for daily, then quickly lifting up the needs of that specific day.

I had even taken time to praise God and to surrender myself to His will –but I forgot to be still and let Him restore my soul.

I have learned over the years, (and periodically forget and have to learn again) that when I begin to feel burdened and weary and just a little hopeless about life, it is a sure sign that I need to go off by myself and just be still before God for a while.

I tend to keep so busy, I often feel like time with God is limited and fall into the habit of cramming all my requests in, filling up my time with all the “important” matters I have to talk to God about. Then, I go about my busy day without having taken time to linger in God’s presence.

As I read those verses that day, I was especially struck by Psalm 4:4 and its admonition to “stand in awe, and sin not.”

When I take time to be still and think about God, whether reading His Word or just remembering Who He is, what He is like, and what He has done for me, I stand awe-struck at His holiness.

With the holiness of the Most High God fresh in my heart and mind, I will see sin as He sees it, and be stronger for my daily fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Being still refreshes, restores, and strengthens us for the day. Time spent being still can seem unproductive or wasteful, but it is the very thing that allows us to be productive. It allows us to get our hearts in tune with the Holy Spirit and access the grace and enablement He offers for the tasks and trials of each day.

 So remember: no matter how busy life gets, always take time to

“Be still, and know that I am God” 

Psalm 46:10