Be Still

 I've been thinking a lot lately about the phrase "be still". Then this morning, as I was reading Scripture, that phrase came back to me and I began to wonder under what circumstances God used that phrase. I looked it up, and here are a few examples:

Exodus 14:14 - "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." The Israelites were trapped, with the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh's army behind them. There was nowhere to go, all seemed lost. And God said, "Be still".

Nehemiah 8:11 - "The Levites calmed all the people saying, "Be still, for this is a Holy Day. Do not grieve." All of the people heard the book of the Law read aloud, and they were so convicted of their sin they started to weep. And the Levites, God's priestly tribe, said, "Be still".

Psalm 37:7a - "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." This entire Psalm is about how it's so easy to look around and think that evil is prevailing. It can be discouraging to see those who do wrong seem like they are getting ahead. But God says, "Be still."

Mark 4:39 - "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." The disciples were sure that their boat was going to sink when they were being battered by the storm. They saw that they were powerless to stop it, and they were going to drown. And Jesus said, "Be still."

Just when it seems like all is lost, just when you think there is nowhere else to turn, just when you've reached the end of yourself, God says, "Be still." When you look around at this world, and it seems like evil is winning, be still. When you look at your life, and it seems like there is just no way your circumstances could get any worse, be still. When you've messed it up and you're seeking God's forgiveness, be still. When the wind and the waves of life won't let up, be still.

Allow yourself to rest in the goodness of God. Stop looking around, and practice Hebrews 12:2: fix your eyes on Jesus. He is always in control, nothing that happens to you surprises Him, so be still.

One more idea to encourage your heart today:

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

We can be still because God will be exalted. He is God, the Almighty, our Creator. We can trust Him in the chaos. Just be still.