Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.I have read this Scripture so many times. I’ve seen it on Social Media posts, read it in articles, even woven into beautiful tapestry hung on walls. But what exactly does it mean? Should we focus on shortening our to-do list and slowing down our sprint through life? Is simplifying our days the answer? I’m beginning to find out I’ve missed the most important aspect of that command.In the pursuit of learning to be still, I’ve been scheduling “nothing time” into my calendar lately. I stop. drop. and do …nothing. 5-10 minutes dotted throughout the day. Yet I find, though I’m seated quietly in my favorite deck chair, my mind is elsewhere, engaged in heated arguments with reason, sparring with logic and wrestling with rational over some nagging issues that refuse to be silenced until it’s dealt with.These ‘issues’ are sometimes as petty as lamenting the absence of structure in my life or more serious concerns like a friend going through a tragic time. They gnaw at my internal peace, poking their heads out like meerkats from their burrows.  They play ‘tag, you’re it’ with negative emotions that are like rakes, being dragged across a well-maintained lawn, leaving behind unsightly furrows, ruining my ‘nothing time’ and thereby defeating the purpose.

Being still, I also found, doesn’t mean emptying my mind and disengaging with my thoughts as some religions encourage. On the contrary, God says to intentionally meditate on His Word.

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

It’s easy to ‘be still’ when everything is going relatively well. Those 2 words in psalm 46:10 specifically call us to be still when we are in the eye of a storm or facing a mountain that refuses to move. When your best friend breaks your trust, your boss favors other employees, your child is estranged from you, your health deteriorates, you can’t pay the bills, or you are on a roller coaster ride of self-destructive habits of your own making, that’s the time we need to cultivate the habit of being still.

But before we can be still in dire circumstances, we need to understand  the second clause in that commandment, “and know that I am God”. Without fulfilling this, it’s almost impossible to be still. Many of us strive so hard to ‘be still’ without paying much attention to “and know that I am God”, so we shouldn’t be surprised if our efforts leave us feeling drained, guilty and defeated.

Let’s read this scripture again.
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

We see examples of men and women of great faith in the Bible that knew who God was in the midst of unimaginable trials. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and thrown into a furnace but they saw the 4^th man like the Son of God. They were ‘still’ because they knew God.

Daniel was thrown into a lions den but he knew His God who was able to shut their mouth. Jehoshaphat sent worshippers before his army instead of generals with spears, all because He knew the Lord that said He will fight the battle.

David ran towards a one eyed giant because he was confident and knew God was with him. All these scenarios warranted panic, dismay, defeat and throwing in the towel, but it’s because they knew God before the trial came knocking on their door, that they were able to beat all odds.

It’s true, If we can cultivate living a simplified life, it will certainly pay dividends, however the reward of truly knowing God is priceless. Being still then, will be a result that will follow easily without striving.

What is one thing or area in your life where you constantly struggle to let go and be still? Give it over to Him. 100%. Don’t hold back. Spend time knowing your God, who He is to you and who you are to Him.

You can never measure or describe in human terms the depth of His love for you. The more you begin to know and understand His mercy and grace, His character, what He is willing and able to do for you, the more ‘be still’ becomes easier. Those issues you’ve been trying to fix and restore all these years will simply not look like such a big mountain after all, and you will continue your journey in life, on another level.

In His Service,

Sohani Faria
Director
Sound of the Lord Mission