Be still

Many of you are likely familiar with Psalm 46:10 " Be still and know that I am God."

Until this past fall I had not meditated on that verse in the context of the entire chapter. What a disservice I was doing myself! I'm going to pull a few verses here, but I'd really encourage you to go read the full chapter.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea,

Though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see the works of the Lord [...]

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth [...]

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted in the earth. 

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Psalm 46, 1-3, 7, 8a, 9a, 10-11.

When our mountains are crumbling into the sea, when waves continuously assault us roaring with trouble and suffering what is our first instinct? 

Is it to cower in fear? We don't have to. 

Is it to get busy doing everything we can to 'fix it'? We don't always need to. 

When the battle is raging all around us and our soul is crushed in weariness HE is our fortress, our REFUGE. 

There is a safe place to go and find the rest our weary bodies and heart so desperately long for. 

For some it goes against every sensibility to "be still" in the midst of chaos or battles. We want to do, go, and fix. After all, battles are meant to be fought. 

But perhaps not BY us. 

Perhaps they are to be fought FOR us. 

Sometimes we need to find our refuge, our rest, our place to be still and watch him display his power. He is the Lord ALMIGHTY and there is no mountain, no battle too powerful for him! 

He can when we can't. 

The same God of Jacob who performed all the wondrous feats and miracles of scripture is here WITH US. With you. 

In Psalm 62:8  He tells us (my paraphrase): I am your refuge. Pour your heart out to me. All your tears, all your pain, all your disappointment. Even your anger. I am a safe place. Trust me. 

Sometimes I need to hear him say, "Heather, be still. I've got this. Watch me be God. Watch me display my power." 

And he will. 

In the midst of my heartbreak, my sorrow, my pain: He will be exalted. 

By being still I can honor him. I can let him write a testimony. And yes, it may be filled with some really uncomfortable, ugly, and painful parts. But he will make it beautiful. As I find refuge and strength and he will be exalted. 

REFLECTIONS: 

1. Is it hard to "be still"? Why or why not? 

2. Do you yearn for a safe place to find rest? a shelter in the storm?

When the mountains tremble

and they fall into the sea. 

When the waves are crashing

all around me. 

When the battle rages

and my soul is weary

You are here. 

I will, I will

Be still. 

He will, He will be

Be exalted in this life

in the sorrow and strife

He will

Oh heart, be still.