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Be still and know that I am God”” is my absolute favorite saying from the Bible.  I am not sure why although I am quite sure that God has something to do with it.  After all, He really has something to do with most everything.  We often, probably daily, forget that God is in control.

When I think about Him saying, “Be still and know that I am God”, it reminds me that He is trying to tell us how simple it can be for us to move closer to Him.  “Be still”.  Such a simple thing.  But there’s a catch.  What does it mean to really “be still” so that we will know He is God.

I do not have good memories of trying to “be still”.  It was something my parents often yelled at us when we were children.  Of course, that meant we were probably being “naughty” ( like my little brothers wiggling too much at church), too loud, too boisterous, too intent on just being kids.  And to “be still” usually meant to stop having fun or, worse yet, to be paddled.  So it was not a good thing.

As I grew up, the concept of “being still” seemed to be an unreachable goal.  How, in this modern, chaotic world could we ever find time to “be still”?  We are bombarded almost 24 hours a day trying to fulfill the tasks expected of us by our spouses, our children, our aging parents, our bosses, our co-workers, our friends, even our fellow church members.  Then add the almost constant interruptions of our cell phones, social media, TV news of the next tragedy unfolding in the world.  And then there’s the guilt we live with because if we are trying to be good Christians we feel we are not doing enough to combat the evils of the world like homelessness, poverty, hunger, human trafficking, abortion.  That list could go on forever.  So where does a time to “be still” fit in our lives?

It is a complicated question but it’s imperative that we find an answer.  Which one of us doesn’t want to “know” God?  I can think of a few ways I have found to “be still and know that I am God”.

Walking in the silent hush of new falling snow watching God’s lacy handiwork decorating the boughs of the evergreen trees and the whole world turning white and clean.

Nursing a baby at 5 AM in the quiet sleep of the house gazing down at the miraculous new person God created and feeling tiny fingers curled around your thumb.

But we need to be able to “be still and know that I am God” in our daily lives which don’t often offer these special opportunities.  So, I ask you, how do we do it?  I think we need to carve spaces out of our frenetic days and take the time to make it happen.  If worshiping our God and staying close to Him is the top priority in our lives, we have no choice but to find a way.  After all, He asked us to.  And He is our best friend, our savior, our protector.

We could find a place we can escape to somewhere in our home for 10 minutes a day.  10 minutes is not a long time.  If that’s not possible, we can park our car in an isolated place somewhere for 10 minutes on our way to or from work.  And if we can’t do that, go for an early morning or late evening walk when we’re least likely to run into other people.  Even if we can’t be still, be quiet…and listen.  God will speak to us.  We may not hear actual words, but the longings and desires of our hearts will help direct us on the path He has planned for us.  He will also gently hear our concerns, our needs, our hopes, our problems.  He wants to spend this time with us.  He knows our heart inside and out and he knows how many strands of hair are on our heads.  He created us and His deepest desire is to be close to us, to guide us, and to safeguard us.  We may be surprised to feel the depth of His longing to be in a closer relationship with us.  And He will wrap us in His love.  God is love.  He overflows with it.  There is so much joy to be had when we actually learn to “be still and know that I am God”.

I recently attended a funeral of a wonderful Christian woman who was 94 years old and had lived a life full of faith despite many trials and tribulations.  She raised eight children almost single-handedly due to living with (and without) an alcoholic husband.  She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and suffered with it for many years.  I used to ride to church with my friend, Karen, her daughter, and her every Sunday.  She lived in our building but eventually had to move to Assisted Living and then Memory Care.  She always knew us, though, which is unusual with her disease.  I felt like I still had a mom even though mine passed away years ago.  She also never lost her faith and even remembered her prayers.  Everybody loved her, including her caregivers.  During her lifetime, she always loved and included everyone around her.  She was always smiling despite her limitations.  In the end, hospice care was brought in.  Our pastor went to see her and she woke up and immediately thanked him for coming and began to say the Our Father.  This was after being unresponsive for several days.  She passed away peacefully a few nights later.  I know for a fact that as she took her final breath on this earth and saw Jesus coming towards her she felt the true meaning of “Be still and know that I am God”.