Be Still

"Be still and know that I am God..." These words from Psalm 46:10 come to me as I consider the things going on in my life at present. While I cannot say that the overall tenor of things is that much different than in times in the past, it seems that wherever I look there are problems. Whether it be my own circumstances or those of someone within my circle of concern, there seems to be something on the verge of getting out of control, Everyday, a new problem just as others have been apparently resolved.

What I have written is nothing new. We all have problems which we need to apply ourselves to and solve. However, how about those that are beyond our control? These are those that lead to frustration. I see people I care about who are struggling with things beyond their strength and so desire to fix things but I cannot. I read how God calls us to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2), but it seems I struggle to bear my own.

Then as I think on these things, I am reminded that I have also been called to pray without ceasing                 (1 Thessalonians 5:17). As I pray, I find that some things are resolved quickly and I am thankful that God answers prayer. However, there are so many things that are not resolved quickly or even in a moderate length of time. It is with these situations where no answer seems to be in sight where the frustration creeps back and threatens to overwhelm me.

But God's Word is so good. He has just what I need when I need it. The words from Psalms 46 resonate within me as I consider the sources of my frustration. "Be still." That is what it is all about in the Christian life, isn't it? We think we have to fix things. We think they are out of control. The truth is they are out of our control but not God's control. "Be still and know..." I can have every confidence that God  has heard my cries and that He has not forsaken me when I cease from relying on my own efforts and truly look to Him.

Psalm 27 says it this way, "Wait on the Lord." Either way it means the same thin. God has promised not to leave or forsake His child. So when I have committed the matter to prayer and I have done all that is reasonable to do and the answer is still not in sight, that means the answer is still coming. God calls me to trust that He will do as He has says He will. In other words, when I want to fix things, I need to remember, He is God and I am not. And so even this moment I pray, "Lord, help me to be still and know that You are God."