Be Still and Know
By Mindy Lee Hopman
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.’ Psalm 46:10 NIV
Final projects, end-of-year parties, exams, end-of-year concerts, moving-up ceremonies, award ceremonies, teacher gifts, baccalaureate, and graduation - yikes! Those words are enough to give this teacher/mama’s heart a strong dose of anxiety!
With four teenagers in my home, two of my own and two international students, who all attend the school my husband leads, our lives contain a lot of celebrations and “good things” these days.
But to be quite honest, I was struggling at the beginning of this full season. My finite mind kept focusing on all of the items on the “to-do” list versus what was already “done” for my life.
And this Scripture kept appearing everywhere I looked:
He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.’ Psalm 46:10 NIV
Be still. In Hebrew, raphah, to sink deep, or let go, cease striving.
In God’s perfect way He gently whispered to me, “Be still. The waves will continue to crash all around you, just as the ocean never ceases and the tides rise and fall, but through it all you will find rest in Me because regardless of what you do, my ‘to-do’ list will be completed. I will be exalted among the nations.”
In the busyness of my daily schedule, Christ calls me to “Be still.” The busyness continues all around me, but my heart does not feel it and anxiety does not wreck my soul if I am still in the great “I AM.”
I can prepare the food and keep the home clean when I am still in Him. I can organize the snacks and keep the laundry going when I am still in Him.
When I’m still in Him I remember to breathe. When I remember to breathe I’m able to shift my focus from self to Savior.
I breathe in grace and peace, and I breathe out anxiety, strife, and worry from deep within my soul.
As Ruth Bell Graham says, “Worship and worry cannot live in the same heart.”
Through continuous prayer and worship (constantly as I drive, cook, and clean!), I keep my eyes on Christ. He has taught me how to let go of perfection and hold on tightly to grace.
In my weakness, He is strong.
It was when I came to the end of myself, that His Spirit strengthened within me, to bless the precious people in my life.
Heavenly Father, I praise You for gently reminding me to “Be Still” in You. Life is busy and fast, but through it all, You are constant. Through prayer and worship I can keep my focus on You and walk confidently in knowing that even in the busyness, as the ocean never ceases and the tides rise and fall, I can find rest in You because you are constant. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
© 2017 by Mindy Lee Hopman. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Wednesday, 24 May 2017.
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