Thursday, October 10, 2013

A Time for Stillness


“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.

‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’

The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Selah” (Psalm 46:1-11 NIV)

Life can sometimes seem overwhelming.  On the micro level, we have the pressures of tests, relationships, and making ends meet.  On the macro level we have financial crises, terrorism, and endless suffering in various parts of the world.  Our world at both levels can be very chaotic and uncertain.  

This is the picture painted in this psalm.  A world in chaos.  Beyond our control.  Panic and desperation.  Frenetic activity.  Full of anxious chatter and noise.   

And into this bedlam a voice speaks, “Be still and know that I am God.”

This is not our instinct when things are out of control.  We stress.  We panic.  We are distracted.  We do not want to be still.  Something has to be done!

Yet, what needs to be done is to stop and be still.  Only then will we be able to focus on this one fact—God is in control.  He is God and the problems we have are no challenge to Him.  He will work everything out. All that needs to be done is to trust Him.

If you are finding life overwhelming, stop what you are doing.  Be still. Know that the God of the universe is in control.   

© Jim Musser 2013

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