Be Still

Why is it when life gets tough we want to control the situation around us? When we are having difficulty knowing which direction to take, why do we forget to lean on God and know that he will lead us the right way? Why are we always taking matters into our own hands? Psalms 46:10 says "Be Still and know that I am God". This scripture is so comforting. So few words yet so powerful. But why is this so difficult for us? Be still, stop trying to control how and when and where, draw on our Lord's strength and his wisdom to see us through the tough times. He knows and He will answer, if we let Him.

This was the topic of conversation today. We needed to be reminded to let go of situations that we were trying to control. To be reminded to lean on Christ in everything. It's easy to be thankful for our blessings and to lean on Him when things are going good, but when life stops us dead in our tracks, that's when we say, whoa, hang on a minute, I'm not going to wait on you to present the answers to me. I'm doing this thing my way. Look at what this means though, do we fret, worry, have short tempers, frustrate easily, mope around, say hurtful things and even sometimes behave in a spiteful manner? Generally this tends to make the situation worse. Isn't this, then, the very best time to lean on Christ, when we don't have it all together? Give it to him and have faith that he knows more about this than we do.

Psalms 47 begins by saying in verse 1 " God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble". I don't know about you, but no matter how good our friends are or how loving our husband is, I don't know anyone that is "ever-present". Someone who never leaves us and always wants what is best for us.

The passage continues by saying in verses 2 - 11 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 the works of the LORD, 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 [b] with fire. 10 "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.

He makes the wars cease. That sort of stands out. If he can make the wars cease, then I'm sure he can take away the turmoil in our lives. If only we let him.

"Dear Lord, help us to give everything to you in thoughtful prayer. Help us to give you our hardships and turmoil so that you can see us through to the other side of difficult times. Thank you for the promise that you will be with us always, even in times of trouble. Help us to Be Still and know that you are God. Amen".