“Be Still And Know”

With all of the chaos going on in the world around us now, combined with the stress of being a single parent and responsibilities too numerous to count, it is far too easy to focus on the stress of life and get very discouraged and anxious. I learned early on as a single parent that one of the most important things I can do for myself and my family is to have a little quiet time to myself each day to relax and soak up God’s presence (in addition to my regular quiet time with Him). The same can be said for anybody.

When the stress, struggles and chaos seem to be squeezing the very breath out of me, I have to constantly remind myself to re-focus on the Lord and rest in Him. Even the worst stress, chaos and struggles in life all wrapped up into one are NO match for the peace, hope and joy that God brings! Rest is God’s idea, and a gift from Him, and should be utilized regularly to recharge our batteries. When we are still before the Lord, He brings us rest.

One time in particular, something had happened with one of my sons and it was something I had prayed very specifically that would never happen to either of my kids. I was at a loss for words and all I could do is drop to my knees and cry out to heaven. Why did this happen when I poured so much prayer into this, and it seems to have happened anyway? At that moment, I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Immediately, I knew that despite how the circumstance looked at the moment, the Lord was telling me to be still and trust Him to take care of this, which He did, and everything was not as it seemed in the beginning.

People spend billions of dollars a year on things to take away stress, and though many of these things are wonderful and enjoyable, they are only temporary. Vacations end, Jacuzzi tubs fizzle out and get cold, massages are short-lived and a day at the spa can leave you with an empty pocketbook. However, the peace that comes from quietly resting in God’s presence takes away even the worst stress and lasts longer than anything else. Be still, and know that HE is God in all the mess! The best thing is, it’s free and available to all! J