“Be still and know that I am God.” I bet you’ve heard that one before – in church, or in a worship song, or a sermon or devotional. We like this one. So we quote it to one another frequently. At least that’s been my experience. I wonder have you ever read the Psalm in which it’s found? It certainly lends a different tone if we read it in context.
I’m reflecting on Psalm 46 today. Maybe you’d like to join me.
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
I’m not sure I have a thorough understanding of the psalmists words here, but it does strike me that the stillness we are invited into takes place within the promised that God is at work. God will make wars cease. God is our fortress.
Whatever the storms in life, it is good medicine to trust that God knows it all. God sees it all. And the Lord we worship isn’t a remote parent, or a distracted supervisor. God is in fact ever present and available to us if we will pause, breathe and take notice. And ya know even when we don’t, when panic or fear rush in, the Lord is there as well. Friends, no matter what life is bringing your way today, I invite you to stop reading my words, and be with God in this moment. Notice how much he loves and cares for you. Pray and listen. Use words if you must. Or just be still.
Did you give it a try? I hope so. We’ll make space for more silence in the presence of God this Sunday at Church in the Living Room, 11am at the Ross’s house. We’ll give some time to our reflections on what God is building in Gathering Delco, using the resource page from last week. I’ve attached it so you can review and pray through it. I’m hoping many of us will have things to share about what God is calling out in our church community. Btw, this exercise is based on the church community which develops at following the out pouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as described in Acts 2.
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