Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
I love this truth. We live amidst the swirling storms of many different circumstances. We exist every day within many different relationship dynamics. Those we work with can bring stress and anxiety… parenting will often bring stress and anxiety… all this amidst the pace of life that we live can find us pretty beat up at times.
Do you know how to be still?
The promise is that God will be exalted amidst any and all circumstances. There are no storms outside of His oversight. He will be exalted.
Amidst the storm our first reaction is often to work harder to bring relief or attempt a new strategy. When things get really bad we often just look for any way to escape the difficulty in which we find ourselves.
I want to suggest that we approach our storm or stress a little bit differently today. The strongest temptation we face in these moments is to just escape. The temptation is to escape physically by leaving, emotionally by shutting down, or even to reach for some substance which will help us find that escape.
I believe the God of creation would tell us to just be still. Sure there is going to be power in the stillness and the calm but I do not think that is the extent of this truth.
The weight of this challenge is found in the words, “know that I am God.” In other words, be still and know that I am provider, sustainer, healer, and pursuer. Be still and know that God is the one true sovereign God over all things and He is working in and through all things for His great glory. Be still and know that He is a God who loves you and pursues you and desires to transform you. Be still and know that He is not absent from your circumstances but rather completely present and working in all of them.
Be still and find confidence and peace in God regardless of the circumstances that surround you. Do you know how to be still?
Still your heart because He is God and He will be exalted. Still your mind because He is God and He will be exalted. Find peace today in the author of peace, our Savior and our Sustainer.
Matt Powell serves as teaching pastor at Crossings Community Church, a body of believers whose mission is to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation in Katy, TX.