Be Still

Raising four boys in our home over a long number of years (or a number of long years) means the words “be still” were heard over and over again. Boys move about, walk, run, jump, fall, climb (enough already) and parents are often heard to say, “be still.” Summoning memories of boyhood years those words were heard numerous times inside a building we called “the Church.” I am sure some number of teachers said it in the presence of those boys, and it was common in our home.

That brought to mind a wonderful verse of Scripture – Psalms 46:10: “Be Still – and know that I am God. . . .” I don’t want to take that verse out of it’s context, and it is a song about war. Some translations start that verse with – “Stop fighting. . .and “Cease struggling. . . ,” but I believe it covers a broader thought, and fits our days and the seriousness of life in 2021. When those boys mentioned earlier were asked to “be still” it was because they were missing an opportunity to learn, or gain wisdom, or hear Truth from outside or inside, and continuing on would be less valuable than “being still.”

I believe the best way to know God is to “be still.” Stop fighting with God, or struggling against the Truth. Be still – in the presence of God (of His Spirit within you) and concentrate and contemplate who He is and what He is about. As adults we are busy, hurried, worried, moving fast, getting it done, go, go, go. . .and there is little, or no time to stop and know Him who is Life. We know a lot about Him. We know what He can accomplish. We know that He is there, lloves us, leads us, guides us, and protects us from every harm that would shorten His will for our life. But do we really know HIM. I am convinced that does not come with voracious study, or the plethora of worship concepts, or the busy life that never slows down enough to “be still — .”

Here’s the deal (thanks, Mr. President): I have a thousand trees, and you can pick one to sit under alone and undisturbed as long as you like. I have a dozen chairs you can use to sit by the private lake, uninterrupted as long as you wish. I have a woods you can walk in and never be disturbed by sirens, cars, the hustle and bustle of life. There you can “be still” and see if God is there for you to get better acquainted with HIM. You won’t need your Bible, or your prayer book, or your journal – just your redeemed and Spirit filled innermost being – and a desire above all else to “know HIM.”