Two-minute read.
Do you remember the last time you sat still for longer than five minutes? Two minutes? Thirty seconds?
Our world does not promote stillness; it promotes FOMO: Fear of Missing Out.
If we take time to sit still, guilt can quickly overtake us as the hundreds of things we need to do race through our minds. I find stillness through prayer and stretching. Medically, it takes 90 seconds to 3 minutes for fascia to stretch and remodel, improving joint mobility and expanding range of motion while rehydrating the fascial netting. As I move into a pose, I pray and find stillness, connecting with the Lord on a deeper level.
But it has taken years of practicing to embrace the stillness and rest in the Lord.
And I’m still working on it.
When Jesus died on the cross, He didn’t tell us to become busier. Instead, the Lord tells us to trust Him, accept His gift, and rest. During times of trouble and uncertainty, God doesn’t call us to do more. He calls us to be still.
The Lord invites us to sit quietly with Him. Finding a space that promotes stillness helps with the process. In my house, I have a loft where I find stillness. Outside, I like to sit where I am now, on lounge chairs under an umbrella, listening to my husband mow the lawn and smelling one of my favorite smells: fresh-cut grass.
When we submit our lives to Christ, we give up control. Instead of desperately trying to run the world around us, God invites us to release our grip and know that, whatever the situation, the Lord has it under control.
Sitting still before our Savior acknowledges His sovereignty. Jesus sees what I cannot see. He hears the conversations I don’t and knows things I will never know. Through it all, Christ remains faithful, and we can find stillness in His presence.
The psalmist points beyond our immediate problems to God’s purposes. Even though we can’t see the solution, we know the One who does. And we can rest in His presence as God’s plan unfolds.
Take 30 seconds right now. Close your eyes. Fix your thoughts on Jesus and be still. Let the Lord take care of the rest.
Journal Questions:
- What are you currently trying to control that you need to surrender to God?
- What does “Be still and know that I am God” mean to you in this particular season?
- What would change today if you truly believed that God is your refuge and is already at work?
Application:
When you feel overwhelmed, try this simple practice: Stop, Breathe, Pray, Release.
