Be Still

Be Still

I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love, waiting as long as it takes for him to rescue me.  Only God is my Savior, and he will not fail me.  For he alone is my safe place. His wrap-around presence always protects me as my champion defender.  There’s no risk of failure with God! So why would I let worry paralyze me, even when troubles multiply around me?

Psalms 62:5-6

It was 3:30pm and I had been sitting on my bed for 30 minutes. As I was sitting there trying to focus my mind and heart, I knew I needed to hear from God. I had to speak to a group of girls at my church that night and my mind was completely blank.  

My week had been absolutely crazy and I felt depleted of everything! My grandma had passed away, and I had just spoken at her funeral that morning.  I could stop right there at reasons why I felt depleted.  But adding that to the crazy week I already had which consisted of taking my daughter to an out of town doctor appointment, being asked to speak to a girls class at my church and having an important phone conference scheduled for later that week, I was on overload!  They were all good obligations, but added onto my normal obligations, I was completely overwhelmed!

I reached out to a friend in my overwhelmedness.  At first, just to try and help me focus.  As our conversation continued though, I knew that I wasn’t supposed to talk to the girls that night.  As I was telling her how mentally done I was for the week, she reassured me and said, “You are allowed to say no.” Which, is a very hard word for me to say.  She went on to say that, “It’s time to be still. Rest in His presence and soak.”   

It’s so hard for me to say no that even during our conversation, I still felt guilty saying the word “No” and not doing this good obligation.  I was still looking for ways that I could still talk to the girls, even when I knew that the only obligation God wanted me to do at that point was to be still.  In the end, I graciously backed out of speaking to the class.  

Instead of speaking, I went into the church service.  As I was sitting there waiting for the service to start, soaking music was playing.  You will never believe what 2 of the 3 songs that they played were about! BEING STILL!  When the first song came on, I smiled a little and thanked God for His confirmation.  As the second song about being still played, I giggled!  I looked at a friend of mine beside me and told her what happened that day and about the word I was given, Be Still.  

God knows us! He loves and cares so much for us! He knows when we are being called to “do” and He knows when we are being called to “be still”.  He knows how our minds work.  He knows how guilt can set in when we say no to obligations, especially good obligations.  That’s the goodness of our God though! When we are following His ways and plans, He will send confirmations…sometimes two…to help us and to confirm to us to Be Still.

Funny thing is though, I had even more than 2 confirmations! The very next day I was talking to a friend.  I had some questions to ask her about a phone conference I was having the next day. During our conversation, you will never guess what she told me, “BE STILL!”  

Ladies, I have learned something from all of this, and I want to share it with you!  There is FREEDOM to be found in just being still. When we are overwhelmed and our schedule is full, we need to let God refresh us.  How do we do that? 

“I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love….”

Psalms 62:5

By allowing yourself much needed time to be absolutely still, silent, resting in His Presence. When you are overwhelmed, allow yourself to say no and instead be still, that is where true freedom is found!

Music For You: 

• Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) by Kari Jobe