Stillness in the Storm

“Be still, and know that I am God;”
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)

Arise and shine, dear one! God is with you!

It’s now March and Spring Break will be here before I know it. We usually like to have a short trip planned to explore the beauty of Oregon as a family, but this year our plans are on hold as my husband was laid off from his job. When we walk through uncertainty and we don’t know how long the storm may last, it can feel overwhelming. Questions and “what if” scenarios may swirl in our thoughts, and we can find ourselves drowning in fear.

God’s Word provides the anchor our souls need in the storm. Psalm 46 is one of my favorites that reminds me that God is my refuge and strength no matter what my circumstances may look like. We aren’t told to solve the problems in life on our own or sit in worry, as if our worry could fix it all. Instead, Psalm 46:10 tells us to “be still, and know that I am God.”

In the stillness, we can focus our attention on truly knowing God. This isn’t an intellectual knowledge like a list of facts about God. The word for “know” in Hebrew used here is “yada” which implies a deeply personal and intimate relationship between God and His people. It goes beyond simply knowing that He is God and speaks to the fact that He is my God who knows me, knows all that I’m facing, and that He can be my peace in the chaos that surrounds me.

Do you know God, dear one? Do your actions and the way you live your life reflect that you know God in the depth of your soul or that you merely know of God? The good news is God’s Word and prayer gives us tools to knowing God more deeply everyday as you choose to spend time with Him. You can start by reading all of Psalm 46 and talk to God about who He is and what you’re facing today. If you find yourself swirling in a sea of fear and unknown, be still and know that He is God. He’s got you, dear one, and He’s not letting go.