I haven’t written in a while. Not because I have nothing to say, but because I’m dealing with something deep within my personal life and in the midst of the chaos of the world, covid, riots, and writing have all taken a backseat to my own worries. I believe someday God will have me tell my story, but not yet.
Psalm 46:10 says that we are to be still and know that He is God. Have you ever tried to actually do that? Stillness is hard. I moved recently and as I sit on the porch of my new apartment, they’ve landscaped the area to look like we’re in the middle of the woods, despite the fact that we’re smack in the middle of the suburbs. It’s peaceful. Yet in the midst of life, it still takes intentionality to be still.
What is stillness actually? It is staring at the sunset, admiring the colors God painted across the sky? Or driving into downtown so early that the streets scream silence? Or enjoying a morning run? Or ice cream at bedtime? Is stillness pausing to recognize that God is the One who breathed life into us and it is Him who will determine our days? Could stillness be the realization that God loves us more than we could ever imagine, and His grace to so full that we’re practically swimming in it unaware?
In that stillness, God is God. Stillness requires that we acknowledge Him. It’s intimidating sometimes to sit with the One who made the moon and stars and set the world afloat. But it’s also amazingly comforting to know that the God who created the world loves each one of us so much that He gave His all so we can be with Him.
Why do we choose to remain in the chaos and darkness? Are we afraid of what the light might expose? Or it just easier to remain on the hamster wheel?
In the stillness, we hear His voice, singing and rejoicing over us (Zeph 3:17). And the stillness, we respond with singing and rejoicing (so many verses in the New Testament that I cannot site just one).
I struggle with stillness. But whenever I stop to pray, it’s as if God says “Stop already! I’ve got this.” I know I’m not alone in that. If you’re good at stillness, I’d love some advice! But in the meantime, just remember that God is still God. He is still good. And He’s still in the midst of this mess, lovingly holding this broken world, just waiting for us to be still and listen for His whisper.