Be Still And .....
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“God says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be supreme over all the nations; I will be supreme in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
I listened to my ninety-one-year-old friend wonder if his life had any more purpose. Why was he still here. At different stages and seasons of life, we all wonder what our purpose is and do we still have value. We are unable to accomplish what our normal routine was. We have always been busy, productive, and active. Disappointments come and dreams go unfulfilled. We all have these thoughts. It is a part of life. Our worry and anxiety get the best of us even when we are trying to stay close to Jesus.
I had a period of time like this and the song, “Be Still, My Soul” began to play in my heart -
“Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change God faithful will remain.”
It is difficult to slow ourselves down emotionally and mentally, but the turmoil inside of us may have become more intense and uncertain. Our hopes and dreams are unrealized, and we wonder what the purpose of our life is now. In these moments of turmoil, grief, loneliness or sadness we need to be still. To be still and change our focus. To be still and allow ourselves to feel the emotions and accept that it is OK to feel this way for a moment. To be still and know God is beside us and is on our side. To be still and give it all to God.
I found myself talking with God. For me it was a time to look into my heart and face the feelings and reasons I got off track. In the stillness of my soul, I began to search for God’s will for my life. I have always believed different is not bad, it is simply different. In each change and decision in my life I have tried to listen and discern God’s direction. I have found that reading God’s Word helps to quiet my soul and begin to listen to God speak directly through familiar words. I study and go deeper into these familiar words and hear something different. God’s Word is a living Word that speaks in different ways throughout our lives.
It is in the quietness of a sunset or in the stillness of the morning that God speaks too. When I am still long enough to listen, God speaks. I run each morning not just for exercise but for quiet time with God. A few days ago, God and I sorted out some hurt and disappointments. God opened a new door in my thoughts and gave me a new freedom that I had not even considered. It was only when I was quiet and began to listen that God revealed what was really going on inside of me.
When I am still before God, I am honest with myself because God already knows my heart. It is in this time I admit my grief, my pain, my sadness, my joys, my blessings and everything in between. In our grief, we need this honest time to allow ourselves to feel all the emotions of the loss and begin to admit to ourselves the depth of love and loss. It is also the time when we cling closely to God knowing it is only through God’s strength that we have made it this far.
I have come to accept that the “cross of grief” was part of my journey. It has been in my grief that my quiet moments with God have become moments of dependency and growth. I have allowed myself to just “be” – to be still, to be present, to be in the moment, to be. God wants us to be present more than He wants us to be doing tasks and being busy with the things of this world. I am finding quiet moments with God each day bring healing to my heart and soul and refreshes me. Just be still and know that God is with you. You do not need to speak words, just sigh and speak God’s name then listen. Be still and know.
Revised blog from 6/4/2020
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Are you going through a storm right now or know someone who is? Through the month of July, my birthday month and as your gift to me, I am asking everyone who reads my blog, to purchase one of my books either for yourself or for a friend. It may be the storm of grief, then purchase – Living In The Different. It may be that you have gone through the intensity of loss and change and need guidance on the journey, then purchase – Live Different Moments. It may be that you want to make a difference and leave a legacy, then purchase – Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – and read how my husband, Dave left a legacy. You can laugh and cry with him. All books are available on Amazon, through me, or at Tea Story in Upper Sandusky. Thank you. Give a gift to a friend or to yourself.
