STOP FIGHTING ME!
Christine Wyrtzen
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
The focus of our church this summer is Psalm 46. Our pastor has strongly encouraged all of us to memorize it ~ even to the smallest child. He has not required something of us that he is not willing to do either. This past Sunday, he recited it at the front end of his sermon. He didn’t make a big deal out of it. It was a quiet, thoughtful delivery. We all knew that he was moved by what came out of his mouth.
He made some extensive comments on the famous verse, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ My view of that scripture changed. He first recited it as if it were coming from a God intending to soothe and lull His child to sleep, like whispering in a child’s ear. He admitted that this is what he always believed to be the context; like comfort for the fearful. But in studying, he discovered it was not meant to be a whisper to soothe the soul. Rather, it was a rebuke. What?
So, I went digging for myself. Sure enough. In the chaos and confusion, in the heat of battle, in the striving and fury of activity, God is telling His children to stop fighting Him. They are playing God. They are trying to control what He controls. The cry for them is to be still, to surrender, and to remember who is God. Now, that changes everything, doesn’t it?
Surrender is the hardest thing to do until I’m out of strength. Before I’m willing to lay down my arms and trust God, I have this need to fix things myself. I want to put everything in place so I can feel secure. Only when I’m spent and out of options do I turn to God. Oh, that my initial response would always be surrender! When I acknowledge God at the beginning of my day, at the beginning of my crisis, and when I remember who has the power, then I will be confident and peaceful.
I put my whole trust today in a God who so easily moves things around with His finger and a puff of air.
Many of us are hearing you say today, ‘Stop what you’re doing! Surrender!’ We lay down our arms and relinquish control. Amen
Originally published Monday, 01 October 2018.
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