Why Would I Be Still?

“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

Yesterday we examined the call of God to simply be still and know. What we did not consider is why God would command such a thing. Why is it important that we be still and know? Why do we need to avoid the frenetic pace of life and focus on God? Upon closer examination, this verse offers us three reasons we need to be still.

First, that we might KNOW that He is God. Of course, we give ascent to the fact that He is God, but do we truly know it? Do we know it to the point that it impacts how we live our lives? Do we know it to the point it affects the way we look at a crisis? Do we know it in a way that affects how we approach times of uncertainty? Do we truly KNOW that HE IS God? If we do, our emotional and spiritual state will be radically impacted. Instead of fear, we will have peace. Instead of worry, we will trust. Instead of fretting, we will have calm. Know that He is God.

The second reason we need to be still and know that He is God, is that He will be exalted among the nations. It is hard to imagine in a time when people want nothing to do with God, that there would come a point that all people will exalt Him. People rebel at the very mention of the name. People are not after freedom OF religion, they want freedom FROM religion (read that, freedom from God). The simple fact, however, is that there is not freedom from God. A day is coming when, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

The third reason that we are to be still and know, is that God will be exalted in the earth. The Bible tells us, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For we know that the whole of creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Romans 8:19, 22). The entire earth has been impacted by the fall of man. All of creation groans, awaiting the return of Christ. This groaning is why we have things like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis. But the Lord promises us, He will be exalted in the earth. So, not only will He be exalted by all of humanity, but literally all of creation will be redeemed and sing out His praises.

So, if the momentary knowledge that God can handle your situation is not enough to cause you to be still, then maybe the eternal reality of His sovereign rule will do the trick. If God can humble the hearts of all of humanity, demanding that they bow in worship of Him; and if He can bring peace to all of creation, that has been decimated by sin; then certainly He can be trusted in our current situation, whatever that may be. Once again, hear the call of God…Be still and know that I am God.

Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 47:10

We live in a chaotic world. Something always seems to be going on. We rush from one appointment to the next, from one commitment to the next, spending our days at various levels of a frenetic pace. All the while our God is calling us to slow down, take a few minutes, and spend some time with Him.

Why does God ask us to, “Be still, and know that I am God”? Why doesn’t He simply say, “In all your rushing around, remember that I am God”? The simple fact is, we can only effectively reflect on who He is when we slow down. We must take time to sit in the quiet, to consider how He has revealed Himself, and to contemplate what that means for me.

The call of God is a call to a life of peace. His call is a call to walk in faith. The presence of God in our life should bring emotional health and wellbeing. His presence should bring a sense that we are not victims of fate, but that our lives are under His sovereign control. As we begin to recognize these truths, we will discover true freedom, the freedom that only He can give.

So, the choice is ours. We can rush around as if the continuance of the human race rest solely upon our shoulders and that a failure to complete our “to do” list will cause the earth to spin off its axis. Or, we can know that our God has everything under control. He is the one that determines our days. He is the one who controls the future. The earth will not spin off of its axis because we were unable to complete all needed tasks.

Hear the call of God. Respond to His gracious invitation. Come away. Be STILL and KNOW, I am God.

In the Midst of the Storm

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

Psalm 139:7-12

As I sit in the quiet of the morning, I am reminded of life’s uncertainties. I awoke this morning to the news that a church member (Randy Trotter, pray for them) had experienced a catastrophic and potentially life altering accident in Colorado.  My heart aches for them, but I trust that God will make His presence known in an overwhelming way.

This news made me think of another church family, the Jentsch’s, who faced a similar crisis a few years ago. They faced a very dark night as their son, Caleb, was injured in a skiing accident while in Colorado. They now stand on the other side of that crisis and have an incredible story to tell of God’s faithfulness. You can read about it here.

Another story came to mind as well, the evening that my mother called and told me that my dad had collapsed and the ambulance had just taken him to the hospital. I will never forget hearing the words, “Darrell, I’m pretty sure your dad is gone.” In that moment, it did not seem real. How could a man who was fine moments ago be gone just like that? He had just been given a clean bill of health after a pretty serious fight with cancer. Now, a heart valve had failed him and he stepped from this life to the next.

What do all these crises have in common? They do not represent a time when God was absent. They represent a time when God stood right in the middle of the storm with His children. They represent a time that God said, “My child, you may not understand now, but you will.” Regardless of what we face, God is with us. We can pray with the Psalmist, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? …If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! …If I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, your hand shall lead me…your right hand shall hold me.”

I do not know what you are facing on this day. However, I know this…God is with you. There is no place that you can go to escape His presence. While the storm may rage against you, do not lose hope. God has not deserted you, He is standing with you.