“But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me.”
— Psalm 131:2 NLT
Take it easy,” Justine’s mom said when Justine lost her purse at the mall. But that’s the last thing Justine could do. My whole life’s in that bag, she thought. My school pass, my brand new raspberry lip gloss. OH NO, and my phone!
Justine borrowed her mom’s cell and ran off to retrace her steps, while at the same time, yakitty-yaking with her BFF about how this was such a disaster, and how she’d just die if she didn’t get the bag back. She was so frazzled, she forgot half the stores she’d been in and was going around in circles. Finally, she slumped down on a bench and cried.
When something difficult, terrible, or awful happens, do you totally freak? Do you get unhinged? Yeah, we all do. It’s, like, our minds take off in a million different directions. We get so upset — we’re useless.
The Bible has a simple, but effective, eight-word remedy for this: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). See, we can’t accomplish anything if we’re in a state of emergency. So the first thing we need to do is stop, get quiet and calm, and let go of our need to do something immediately to solve the problem. That’s the “be still” part.
The second part is the “knowing,” and that’s easier because we already “know” God. We know he’s loving and kind. We know he’s more powerful than any problem we have. We know he has come through for us in the past. We know the Word says he works everything out for our good if we love him (Romans 8:28 TLB), and that his power works best when we’re weak (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).
So putting those two elements together — being still and knowing God — can help us simmer down, get a grip, and remind ourselves to trust more and panic less. “Be silent before the Lord,” the Word advises, “ . . . for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling” (Zechariah 2:13 NLT).
That’s God’s job — to spring into action. Our job is to stay calm, remember he can handle anything, then step out of the way, and let him.
P.S. Justine’s bag was turned in to security by a girl who left this note: “I’d have been so bummed if I lost my bag. Was so happy to be able to return yours.” Did the Holy Spirit nudge her? You think?
More To Explore: 2 Chronicles 20:17; Psalm 16:10
Girl Talk: Have you ever tried to “be still” before God? Try it now.
God Talk: “Heavenly Father, please help me to always remember you’re in control and have everything under control. Amen.”
From Whatever: Livin’ the True, Noble, Totally Excellent Life by Allia Zobel Nolan