Be Still … And Know

It is hard for me to sit still sometimes. My to-do list seems endless, and just when I think I am close to the end of it, more gets added to it.

As the holiday season approaches, it gets even worse. When I think of all the decorating that needs to be done, places to go, people to see, presents to be wrapped, and meals to be cooked, my head starts to spin. How in the world will I get it all done? And yet, every year I manage to cram it all in.

What often gets lost in the busyness, however, is quiet time alone with family and alone with God. What should be a time of anticipation and reflection on God’s goodness – at both Thanksgiving and Christmas – becomes a time of endless social gatherings and trips to the mall. How do we shift our focus?

In Psalm 46:10, the Lord encourages us to “be still and know that I am God.” As we take the time to reflect on who God is, based on what we read in the Bible and how we experience Him in life, that verse sinks deep into our souls.

“Be still and know…” He is bigger than your greatest failures, your deepest disappointments, your hurts and your hang-ups. He is the one who lifts you above the waves, in the midst of the storm. He is the one who will never leave you, who whispers to your heart “do not be afraid.” He is the essence of love, the source of joy, and our basis for hope.

No matter how much we fill up our lives with people, places or things, no one will satisfy us the way He can. That is why this year, I will be adding something new to my calendar: some special time to be still and know that He is God.

“I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior.” – Isaiah 43:11

“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind; is there anything too hard for me?” – Jeremiah 32:27

“I am the way and the truth and the life.” – John 14:6