December 9, 2024
I don't know about you, but my life is pretty crazy right now. Crazy in the sense of busyness and just kind of chaotic.
My husband had foot surgery on Oct. 4 and hasn’t been able to bear weight on it since then. I love him dearly and I know this has not been fun for him, but honestly this has complicated my life a little with doing all the driving, grocery shopping alone, loading a scooter, etc., and working full time. Plus, it has kept him from helping me out around the house.
I know he is tired of it because it has forced him to be "still." I heard a song this week and it has caused me to think about the word "still." In my household, and really in our world, it seems like there are few times when we are still.
Life is so busy, and we fill up our time with work, extracurricular activities, housework, yard work, and the list could go on and on. We seem to be constantly moving. I have to be honest and say even when my body might be still it is equally as hard for me to turn my mind off and allow it to be still.
I can wake up in the night and my mind starts racing, thinking of things I need to do, people I need to check on, or just crazy things like, “Did I turn the dishwasher on?” My point is, it's hard to be still physically and mentally.
I have to carve out the time to just be still and quiet. In my bedroom, I have a sign on the wall that says "Be Still And Know." The definition of "still" is not moving or making a sound or a deep silence and calm. In my quiet time this week, God has taught me some lessons about the word "still.”
First the scripture in Exodus 14:14 says, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” We all have battles or trials we are facing. My human nature is to find a way to work out the situation or solve the problem. I think I can fix it. This verse reminds me that my best defense in this life is the Lord. He will fight any battle I face. My job is to trust, be patient, and surrender the situation to Him. Be still and know - He will fight for me.
Another scripture that spoke to me this week was Mark 4:39: "And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." I said earlier my life is a little chaotic and this can make me feel a little out of control. Sometimes it seems like I am just running in circles and accomplishing nothing. At other times I have so much on my to-do list that I feel paralyzed not knowing where to start.
This verse spoke right to my heart. Be still! When Jesus spoke, the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Isn't that exactly what we need when life is chaotic and there is so much to do? I just have to take a breath and ask Him to fill me with His peace. Be still and know - He can calm the sea and my chaos.
The last verse I thought of was Psalms 27:14: "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, Wait I say on the LORD." Being still means waiting on the Lord and NOT taking matters into my own hands. When I am not exercising the courage to wait, I am actually underestimating the power of God. I have to resist the temptation to let my problems threaten my ability to wait and be still.
God wants me to wait, trust, and pray, which will enable me to be still and put my confidence in Him alone. I have to know that He will handle it. Be still and know - He is in control even while I am waiting.
The chorus to the song that I have been pondering is basically Psalm 23. The words that touched my heart were "Still waters run through any valley I could find. I'm laying fear down here at Heaven's riverside. Your word has been true in every season of my life." I can't think of a time in my life when He has ever let me down.
Be still. Know that He is there. Trust Him in the waiting. Believe in Him to calm your chaos. He is our Shepherd and He leads us by still waters. We just have to follow... still.
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Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. She is available to speak at your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
