| Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and Know that I am God.” |
If there is a word that comes up in conversation a lot, it is busy.
I’ve been so overwhelmed.
I am so busy I can’t seem to get my head above water.
Even those without much to do find something to busy themselves about.
This means, our world is in a rush. Traffic that moves at snail’s pace is met by the impatient driver who believes honking his horn will cure the traffic jam.
Standing in line becomes agony for most people.
But it’s not just the outside world that is in a rush.
For many, their inner lives, the souls are impatient and agitated.
Fear, anxiety, worry drive sleep from lives and peace from hearts.
David knew the cure for that. In the 46th Psalm, we usually read but one verse–vs 10–be still and know that I am God.
Tragically, it sounds like a mother’s admonition to a child sitting through a boring sermon–sit still.
But David doesn’t address squirminess. Instead, he wants us to hear about what is driving us. Yet, he talks about events that dislodge our lives–earthquakes, floods, wars, fires, and famines. It is what strikes our lives and makes us tremble.
To that, he says to be still. But it means more than hands folded on the lap listening to the second-hand tick on the mantle clock. It’s more spiritual.
One translation has “cease your striving” or “stop worrying.”
But I suppose the rendition in The Message speaks to our hearts in a busy and worrisome world.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” (Psalm 46:10, The Message)
The focus of our lives is not our problems and it’s not great advice we found on a webpage. It is letting God be God in circumstances where we think we can do better.
When we can do nothing, God can do everything.
So, step out of life’s traffic pattern. God can handle it.
–Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
