Be Still
~Micah Strouse~

Psalm 46:10 “Stop striving (be still), and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”

It is May. For many, this month means the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. For some, it is a time to go on vacation and relax. For others it means a few months of extra business until school starts again. Travels may be ahead for you with extra family time, or maybe this is extra time to get outdoor projects done. You may have more kid’s activities, or just kids running around the house with school out. Whichever one it means to you, it most likely signals a time of increased “noise.”

In our world today there are numerous sources of noise that vie for our attention and can pull us in all directions. These pull our attention from one thing to another quickly without giving us a chance to stop… take a breath… breathe… and find a quiet place to be still. Each of us has responsibilities that we need to care for, but in our modern world with all the noise, we struggle to cease striving. Many of us tend to move from one task to another, finding ourselves busier than we’d like. We strive to accomplish all the tasks that we have in the day and it can seem like the list will never end. In these times, our stress and feelings of being overwhelmed can creep up on each of us as we strive to finish our lists, but taking time to be still and breathe is something that we are, at times, called to do.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Stop striving (be still), and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.” God calls us to take time to stop our striving and be still. God would never ask us to neglect the necessary responsibilities in our lives, but He does know that we need rest, and He tells us to take time to stop, breathe, and know He is God.

I don’t know about you, but when I take time to stop and be still, there is not much more than I can do other than simply breathe. When we take time to breathe and be still it can help lower our stress and increase sense of calm, relax our muscles, and even increase our energy in the long run. The benefits of taking some time to stop and be still amidst the busy can far outweigh the “loss” of time in the day to do so. Our God knows us and has given us guidance and tools to help each of us even in the busy times when we strive to finish our lists.

So, as you enter this season whether it is with excitement or knowing that it will bring extra “noise,” take time to stop… take a breath… breathe… and find a quiet place to be still.

Blessings on each of you with your travels and the adventures of the season to come.

Oh Lord, you in your sovereign grace have set aside times of rest in this season of life. Help us to recognize those times and settle into those moments…however short or long they may be. We thank you in advance for the work you will do in the moments we choose to be still and rest in you. Amen.