"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
Psalm 46 expresses how a world created with order and harmony can turn to turmoil and chaos.
"Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah" - Psalm 46:2-3.
Amid all this chaos, God's peace and harmony reign, as the Psalm continues, "God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn." Psalm 46:5. This Psalm also gives us inner peace and hope. While disorder and chaos occur, God asks us to "Be still and know." Know that He is constantly working; with just two words, He will calm the storm.
Be still! These are the two words Christ used to calm the storms of the Sea of Galilee. "Peace, be still!" - Mark 4:39. The first thing that comes to mind is to stop and not move a muscle, but that's not what Christ meant.
In Hebrew, the word for "be still" is Raphah. Raphah means to sink, relax, withdraw, be disheartened, refrain, let alone, and let go. Raphah is used 46 times in the Bible. The first we experience it is in Exodus, as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt free from the Pharaoh's slavery. They found themselves entrapped with the Red Sea before them and the Pharoh's army behind them. Finding themselves in distress, rather than fighting back themselves, they were instructed to do one thing :
"Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today... The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." - Exodus 14: 13-14
Be still and know. The Israelites didn't need to fight back, instead to "be still" because God fought for them. Exodus 14:14 reminds us that sometimes things are out of our control, and we may find ourselves in a trap we cannot escape. "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." This shows God's love for us and His desire to receive our burdens and fight our battles for us.
Be still and know. We all suffered the pain of loss at some point in our lives.
"Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." - John 11:21-22.
Mary and Martha experienced the tragic loss of their brother, Lazarus, one whom even Christ wept for. As Mary mourned and lost hope, Martha "Knew." She knew that God would work His way, and without any doubt, as Christ claimed, "Your brother will rise again," Martha once again responded, "I know."
So Christ took away the stone on which Lazarus was lying and said, " Lazarus, come forth!" and Lazarus was raised from the dead.
"Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?"
-John 11:40
"Be still and know". Being still doesn't mean being silent or standing still. God wants us to surrender, to lose control, and to choose to depend wholly on Him. He wants us to abandon ourselves in Jesus Himself, to take His path. To regain control, one must first calm the storm in one's mind, heart, and life. The creations obey His voice! "He uttered His voice, the earth melted" - Psalms 46:6. Just as He calmed the storm of the sea of Galilee or when He allowed Jonah to be swallowed by the whale so he could sink in solitude and peace to redirect him to the path he was destined to take. To allow Him to split the Red Sea, we have come across and fight the battles we are about to face. Because, let's face it, we can't depend solely on ourselves.
" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
God is constantly working. Even when we don't know it, even when we can't feel it or see it, He is constantly working. Every day, He is fighting our battles. He has never stopped and never will.
"My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." - John 5:17
I found this wonderful " S.T.I.L.L" acronym that I would like to share with you.
S - stands for surrender. We must first surrender to God and stop trying to do everything ourselves. Embrace God's plan and the pace He set for your life.
T - stands for talk. Talk to God in prayer, and you will receive direction from Him.
I - stands for identify. Identify who we are in Christ. Stop striving to be something you are not, and calmly embrace the beauty of who Christ made us.
L - stands for look. I ask myself WWJD (what would Jesus do?) I look up to Him as an example, as a role model. He is the perfect example of stillness, just as he went up to the garden of Gethsemane and prayed the night before His arrest.
L - the last L stands for learn contentment. When we've accepted what God has for us, we won't waste time hustling for something that might not be for us in the first place.
-Prayer-
Father, this world we live in can be overwhelming. I thought I could handle it on my own, but I can't. With all the loud voices surrounding me, Lord... It is impossible to hear Your voice... Whispering in me. To be swallowed by a whale in complete darkness and solitude for three days doesn't sound like a bad idea. Journeying in the belly of the whale as I reflect, what's my purpose? Why am I here, and who am I? That moment of peace and quiet in the whale lets me finally hear Your whispers. The sound of your voice calmed the storm in me. Allow me to surrender myself entirely to You. Thank you, Lord, for You showed me the love and compassion You have for me by sending that whale to me. That whale saved me from drowning and redirected me to the right path that I was destined to take. Thank you for carrying my burdens and fighting my battles. Thank you, Father, that You have heard me. And I know that You always hear me.
Amen
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