Be Still, and Know that I Am God

In the course of life and of life’s many tribulations, many of us who are walking with God at one time or another have quoted this verse found in Psalm 46:10. It is a very short verse or more like a command given by God, yet a very powerful one. If you stop for a moment to really reflect on it, the impact will leave you astounded.

What does it mean to “be still?” Be still comes from the Hiphil stem of the verb rapha, which means to let go, to be weak, to release. The command to “be still” requires action on your part, but when you add “and know,” it puts emphasis on God’s control. Therefore, in order for God to do His part and have control, YOU have to do your part and release your situation or problem to Him. This is something that is hard to do for many of us because oftentimes He does things another way and the outcome may be totally different than what we expected; however, we have to remember that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and our ways are not His ways (Isa 55:8), and in the end all things work, according to His plan, for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28).

Surrendering or releasing has always been hard for me, but through the years, after repeated trial and error, I have learned and I’m still learning that God’s ways are always better. I’ve always been a very independent person that likes to have everything pretty much in control and in order. I guess it's because being a single parent has made me face many decisions in life that normally I would not have tackled by myself if I had a supporting partner by my side. My life has not been easy. To say that bringing up children on your own is rough it's an understatement, and then there are life’s problems to go with it, and let’s not mention being afflicted with health problems, most probably triggered by the stress.

So I learned (the hard way), when things go wrong in our lives, we can’t allow ourselves to stop to think about our problem, instead we should act quickly and get whatever it is that needs to get done, done! If we stop to think about our problem, we will dwell on it endlessly; we would cry about it, stress over it, and we would stagger and drag ourselves whining and complaining the whole way about how we don’t want to deal with it (speaking from experience here). Then it dawns on us that the time we spent worrying and stressing over it could have been used to resolve the problem instead. Now you wasted all this time and you’re mortified with yourself over it. Nevertheless, I've also come to learn that there is a time to let things go and allow God to take over.

Many of my friends tell me that I am strong; I tell them I’m a chicken. I don’t like to bore anyone with my problems so I don’t complain but if they only knew that I hurt and cry just like they do and I have self-doubt and many fears just like many of them, they wouldn’t think I’m strong woman; yet, in all my tribulations there is one constant in my life and that is God! No matter what situation I’m in, good or bad, God is there unwavering, unflinching, never changing, all knowing and all powerful. He is my source of strength, the pillow on which I cry, my portion, my raft in the middle of a stormy sea and my solid foundation in the midst of a shaking world. There is no one like Him! He calms my fears and fills me with courage; He comforts me when I’m hurting, and His light shines where there is only darkness; He is my friend who never forgets me or abandons me.

However, every once in a while when I’m hit with overwhelming out-of-my-control problems and I lose focus and forget who is really in control, He reminds me. Last night during my prayers, prayers over problems that have been going on for months now, the Lord placed this verse in my heart once again. I know this verse very well but last night it hit me as if it was the very first time I’ve heard it. I remembered all I’ve been going through, every turn and every effort on my part has been in vain, nothing I did worked, instead I ended losing much in my struggle.

In the middle of feeling totally spent, exhausted, defeated and lower that I’ve felt in years, the Lord spoke to me with this verse as if saying, “now let me!” The impact of His words left me in tears. By this time I had nothing left to fight with; the problem was beyond me now and there was nothing else to lose but my stubbornness. I was reminded that I was not allowing the Lord to take over. I re-read the verse, and here’s what follows, “I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Not only will we know that He is God by what He will accomplish, but unbelieving nations--the whole earth will know and will exalt Him; now that’s knowledge!! On a smaller scale, He will not only take care of our problem but by allowing Him to work in our lives, He reveals Who He is. Now let’s put the whole chapter together and allow Him to reveal to you His majesty.

Be blessed in Jesus name.

Psalm 46
(KJV)

1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

2Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea;

3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake
with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4There is a river, the streams whereof
shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved: God shall help her,
and that right early.

6The heathen raged,
the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice,
the earth melted.

7The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob
is our refuge. Selah.

8Come, behold the works of the LORD,
what desolations
he hath made in the earth.

9He maketh wars to cease
unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow,
and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.

11The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.