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before you're still...

i read this blog today that made me stop and think.
we've all heard the verse, "be still, and know that I am God!" (psalm 46:10a)

wouldn't that be great, to be able to just be still for a while?


it makes me think of a lazy day spent at the lake, doing nothing but soaking up the sun and listening to the water lapping on the shore...
of the times i spent laying on the hay bales in pop's hay shed, my dog teddy right beside me...
of curling up on a snowy day with a great book and a cup of coffee (especially with my new addiction, york peppermint patty creamer. yum!)...
of the sunset on my parents' farm...

the thing is, after reading the verses leading up to verse 10, i'm not sure that was the idea the psalmist had:

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
so we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
let the oceans roar and foam.
let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

a river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
from the very break of day, God will protect it.
the nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!
God's voice thunders, and the earth melts!
the LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us;
the God of israel is our fortress.

come, see the glorious works of the LORD:
see how He brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; He burns the shields with fire.
"be still, and know that I AM GOD!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world."
psalm 46:1-10

i don't know about you, but the thought of earthquakes, mountains trembling, kingdoms crumbling, chaos, and war doesn't really make me all warm and fuzzy inside like all those things i mentioned at the beginning (especially that coffee--seriously, you should try it!).

instead, it makes me think of this:

that's my baby girl when she was just a few months old, what is unbelievably around 6 years ago...
she didn't care what was going on around her. she was sleeping because she knew she was in her mommy's arms, and that meant she was safe.

she could be still because she had faith that i would keep her safe.

granted, we were at the zoo and not in the middle of the things going on in this psalm, but i think the idea is the same:

God wants us to be able to be still in the middle of the chaos
while the mountains are falling into the sea
and the ground is shaking under our feet
and the nations are in chaos
--because we know that He is God.

so, maybe, we should start thinking about that verse flipped around a little bit:
"know that I am God, and be still."
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Comments

  1. JanetApril 25, 2012 at 11:35 AM

    I like your insight. He is the calm in our storms allowing us to be still and rest in Him in the middle of the chaos.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog via Allume.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alecia SimerskyApril 25, 2012 at 12:14 PM

    I like that too "know tha I am God, and be still." When things get crazy I want to do everything in my power to fix things, then I go to God. It should always be the other way around. Go to Him first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ~MandyApril 26, 2012 at 8:12 AM

      Alecia, I'm very much the same way, trying to "fix things" myself. Then I realize that doing that is basically me telling the Creator of the Universe that I can do a better job than He can. Hmmm...I'm trying to change my mindset!

      Delete

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