Being Still

I am by nature an intense person, never wanting to miss out on anything. I was walking at 11 months and potty trained at 13 months, got close to straight A’s in school while joining every sport, leadership or music program there was growing up-always the over-achiever. Born into a family of strong-willed, independent, hard-working men and women, ambition and competition are in my blood. I like to be in control of my life and my surroundings, so godly principles like submission and releasing that control have always been a challenge for me, though I still seek daily to become the kind of woman God would have me be.

That being said, it’s a conscious effort for me to sit still, both physically and spiritually. Even after a long week of work, there is always a to-do list running in my head or some way to push myself so that I rarely get down time. On a deeper level, when my attempts at controlling my environment/life are thwarted (as they often are due to daily life changing and evolving) my soul is restless. Each time I read verses that speak of being still, I breathe an audible sigh of relief. It’s hard keeping up with myself sometimes and it’s always nice to be reminded by God’s word that I don’t have to run myself into the ground and try to do everything by my own efforts. In fact, the phrase “Be still” is mentioned in the Bible in 7 verses (interesting) in the KJV and NIV translations (some overlap and some differ in translation). As I read each one, a fresh wave of peace and contentment wash over me, and I feel the little tentacles that are grabbing white-knuckled onto everything I’m worried about in life- my witness, goals, dreams, etc-start to loosen their grip. May they encourage you as well!

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 NIV

This verse in context is the story of the Israelites escaping Pharaoh’s army through the Red Sea. Despite God’s leading and provision, they were still crying out in fear to the Lord, asking Moses if he led them out to the desert to die. They were so afraid they thought it would be better to go back to serving the Egyptians then to be still and trust that the Lord was going to fulfill His promise to them. And that He did…the entire army was swept away under the Red Sea.

How true is this in our own lives? I see something coming for me in my life, fear that the Lord doesn’t have it under control and look for a way to solve it myself. But God would say to me during that time, just as He spoke to the Israelites: you need only to be still. Be still and allow the power of the Lord to work through the situation, allow Him to fight the fear, allow Him to overcome the circumstances that seem unbeatable and just as He saved the Israelites, so shall he save us.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Psalm 4:4 KJV

The verse before this one says “But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.” Meditation-filling our minds and hearts with the Word of God-and prayer are ways for us to be still. How easy is it to de-prioritize this part of our lives? With work and daily activities it’s hard to find a quiet TIME let alone enough quiet in our hearts to listen to what God would say to us. This one is extremely challenging for me but when I have meditated on a particular verse and sat in silence, it’s amazing the things the Lord reveals.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7 NIV

Hmmm…patience? What is that? I have none. It’s so easy to look at the blessings in the lives of others and whine to the Lord, “What about ME, Lord? Why didn’t you give that blessing to ME? It’s not fair!” It’s dangerous ground to compare our lives with others because it leads to discontentment and coveting, but it’s extremely difficult not to notice when “evil” seems to be rewarded while sometimes it is a wearisome task to do continually do good. But we see another promise from the Lord later on in verse 9: “for evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” And again in verse 11: “But the meek with inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” So being still and patient waiting for the Lord reaps great benefits.

Be still,and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen (nations in NIV), I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 KJV

This is one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. It commands such power! It’s amazing that we can ever doubt God’s ability to be God. If we stop our scrambling and worrying long enough, we can find rest in the fact that His purposes will ultimately be fulfilled in our lives and on the earth.

Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. Zechariah 2:13 NIV

This speaks of the promise of the presence of the Lord.,, he’s coming soon!

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 KJV

Jesus Christ told the disciples that he wanted to cross over to the other side of the water, not sink. Yet the disciples were terrified of the wind and the waves that threatened to pull them under. They were incredulous that Jesus was sleeping at their time of need yet with just one phrase from his mouth, the wind and waves fell into complete silence.

I find myself repeating the words “peace, be still” when I start to feel anxious, angry, worried or upset about anything. I pray that Jesus will calm the storms in my heart as he calmed the stormy seas. I see the turbulent winds of worry and the tidal waves of doubt/fear/unbelief, cease with one word from my Jesus as if they were never there. In their place is peace and the knowledge that I don’t have to hold it all together myself or do enough to stop the wind and waves in my life.

As long as Jesus is on my boat, I can rest in His promises.