Be still

Queen in Gold

Be still

5/26/2023

To be still is a choice, not enjoying a flat white and a Chelsea bun in the corner of a small café. It's not going for a walk next to the ocean. Being still is not waking up before everyone else to spend time in the Word.

Don’t get me wrong; these things lessen distraction and help us keep our eyes on Jesus. But true “stillness” is just that: keeping your eyes on Jesus.

I love the lyrics of this hymn:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace.

Still in His presence

Our church gathers in a building on the corner of a busy street. So now and again someone races passed on their motorcycle in the middle of an airy worship moment.

The other day, as we were worshipping, singing about being quiet in His presence, road rage got the better of a driver who made it known on his car horn.

“This is ironic,” I thought.

But then I sensed the Lord say: “That’s the point. In the middle of everything going on in the world, you need to learn to be still.”

"Our awe for God should transcend every aspect of our lives – even the hard and difficult times"

Stillness isn’t to escape your current reality. It’s staying right there, but giving your worries and concerns back to God and stepping into His peace (Phil 4:6-7).

This entire mid-worship conversation between me and God was a good example of multi-tasking corporate worship and taking care of a baby. Even just that moment made it so relevant to where I’m at spiritually.

That following week my baby girl woke up early every morning – right when I sat down and opened my Bible to have "quiet time.” Every single day I got to practice what being quiet and still really look like. And you know what; it’s not easy. It’s not natural. It is a choice.

A very loud, very quiet coffee shop

Currently, I'm the only person in a coffee shop.

I was seeking some quiet. So I left Hanani (our beautiful little girl) with my dear husband and asked the Lord where would be a good writing spot. Then He took me on a 40-minute drive through the city. Which, to be honest, was a little frustrating.

If you read Wild & Adventurous (Part 2), you’ll know I sometimes play a GPS game with Holy Spirit to practice hearing His voice. Today it felt like I was out of practice. Driving one way and then, out of nowhere, changing direction again. But I ended up here and almost started crying when I grasped the significance.

The coffee shop just so happens to be next to a vibrant pub. The pub is completely packed. It’s so loud. It’s hard to describe, but there’s this constant drone of voices. I’m pretty sure that’s why the coffee shop is empty. Actually, I saw an older couple come to sit down only to almost immediately get up and leave.

But it makes sense that this is where God brought me. We are talking about finding stillness amidst the noise, after all.

Psalm 46

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10

I’m a firm believer in taking a look at the broader context of a verse before applying it. Interestingly enough this “Be still” verse is preceded by a storm.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” - Psalm 46:1-3

Where the earth gives way, the mountains move, and the waters roar - that’s where we must be still and know that He is God.
The words “Be still” can also be translated to relax; slacken or be without anxiety. Some commentaries suggest it refers to being in awe of God. Within context, this is certainly not referring to reading your Bible somewhere peacefully on a mountaintop. Our awe for God should transcend every aspect of our lives – even the hard and difficult times.

Elijah

Hanani and I recently listened to a children’s song about Elijah and the time God sent a drought because of Ahab’s sin. The song ends where it says how happy Elijah was when it rained again after three years. I felt obligated to tell her the real story:

This was one of the biggest victories in Elijah’s prophetic career (1 Kings 17-19). They just proved that YHWH is the true God and defeated 450 Baal prophets. God answered his prayer and sent rain after a three-year drought. But instead of being happy, as the song says; Elijah was afraid because of a death threat he received from Ahab’s wife, Jezebel. He fled to the desert and wished he could die.

When we truly fear God, then we know no fear for the world

Apart from receiving a death threat and slaying 450 prophets; I completely relate with Elijah. I often forget the way God has shown His faithfulness and choose to focus on the noise instead. Just after stepping out bravely in obedience and seeing God come through; Elijah lends his ear to the enemy who fills him with fear. When we truly fear God, then we know no fear for the world (Proverbs 14:26-27, Psalm 34:7-9, Romans 8:31)

So what does God do? He takes Elijah up a mountain and asks him to seek Him. (1 Kings 19:1-18)

Then a powerful wind came, tearing the mountains apart; but God wasn’t in the wind.

Then an earthquake came, but God wasn’t in the earthquake.

Then a fire came, but God wasn’t in the fire.

Finally, God spoke - in a gentle whisper.

Elijah had to wait through the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, and only then God revealed Himself in the stillness. Sometimes we need to keep standing when it gets rough. We need to keep seeking the Father until He reveals Himself.

“... Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” - Psalm 46:1-3