“Be still and know that I am God.”
SILENCE
It’s hard isn’t it? Hard to be completely still, without thinking about all of the things we could be doing with our time. Even 60 seconds of silence haunts us and invites us to rush in and fill the void with wayward thoughts and plans for action. Yet, someone once wisely said that “God made us as human beings, NOT human doings.” In fact, that latter phrase doesn’t sound too savoury, does it?
If you have taken this journey with me through verse 10 of Psalm 46 these past few days, you might just be wondering, what is there left to say? We’ve covered it all. Well, yes, we have. But I wish to ask you to pause with me one final time and consider the crucial nature of the tiny word at the start of this verse – BE.
Blaise Pascal wrote, “We allow distractions because we are afraid to be alone. When we are alone, we have to face ourselves. And, when we face ourselves, we discover an emptiness inside ourselves. Only God can fill this emptiness, and we do not like that. So, we cover that emptiness by distraction, by busy-ness, by hyper-activity; anything except to be alone and still.”
Again, God’s voice speaks to us through the pen of the Psalmist – BE.
Counterintuitively. Against everything you might imagine to be true, especially in a period of crisis. It is in the quiet place, the place of stillness, acutely aware of the beautiful presence of God, that we find out who we truly are, and why we are here on this planet in the first place. This goes against the false wisdom of our age and the values of our society, which emphasise activity – lots of it – workaholism, a dog eat dog approach, and a fiercely competitive nature. Into that ferment and rush of demands and busyness, speaks the still, small voice of God – BE.
Perhaps we need to be reminded that a new-born baby needs to do nothing other than exist to be cooed over by their loving parents. Similarly, whilst God welcomes the things that we do to serve others and to build His Kingdom, the love He has for each one of us is not based on our activity, but on His faithfulness.
So, stay with me in this moment. Take some time to allow the gentle waves of God’s Holy Spirit to wash over you and to refresh your flagging faith.
Right here and now, God is whispering to our hearts:
Be still and know that I am GOD
Be still and know that I AM
Be still and KNOW
BE STILL
BE
Prayer
Father God, when nothing seems right, when we are weary and feeling lost, when dark clouds threaten to block out the brightness of Your love, help us to be still.
Lord Jesus, when we feel that our cries go unheeded, when no effort in life seems to bear fruit, when the sun sets on our disappointments, help us to be still.
Holy Spirit, when love is over and hope is gone, help us to be still.
In being still, and in refusing to panic, we shall come to know again that You, God, are with us, and for us; that You suffer alongside us; that You are waiting to show us stepping stones through the swirling waters, and to help us sing a new song of faith through the victory of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Saviour.
In His precious and most holy name, we pray. AMEN.
