Are You Feeling Frantic?
As I was praying, I heard, “Be still.” Well, that can be easier for some of us than others! I’m a pretty big “doer.” Moss doesn’t usually grow under me. But as I’ve gotten older, I have realized the importance of rest and stillness; not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well.
Still means not moving or in motion, free from disturbance, agitation, commotion. Unagitated. To make quiet. Calm, to become still, undisturbed, tranquil. These speak of physical and emotional stillness. We can be physically still but still be emotionally frantic.
In Psalm 46 it seems the writer is living through a time of war, conflict, or at the very least, personal strife. It is also possible that Israel itself was facing war or international conflict when this was written and that the songwriter wrote to encourage the children of Israel to stand in the strength of the Lord.” Joel Ryan
I feel the times we are living in can be compared to those times when this Psalm was written. National crisis, governmental crisis, personal crisis, and more. We can be unaware how these stressors are affecting us mentally and emotionally. We all try to keep going, living our lives as best we can, but on the inside, we can be far from “still.”
Stress and the pressures of life effect nearly every system in our bodies. Our immune system, digestion, increase risk for heart attack and stroke, and bring on depression. It’s not something we should ignore. God has a remedy for these side effects in verse 10 when he tells us “Be still and know I am God.”
What is the Lord saying? In essence He is asking do you trust me? Don’t you know my character, my willingness to help you? Have I ever not come through for you? Have I ever let you down?
For myself I know that I have been through some really awful things. Hard things. I haven’t escaped having problems. I can now say like Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17 that “These troubles and sufferings are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever.” It’s all about our perspective while we go through.
When we know we are not being still, what should we do? Let me share a few things that I do.
1. Stop. I stop mentally and physically and just breath. I am giving myself time to process. If we don’t do this first step, we can end up doing something we regret. Like eating a pint of ice cream or yelling at our spouse.
2. Think. Why am I frantic? What am I feeling? Know yourself well enough to assess where you are emotionally and why.
3. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to help. He may give you a Scripture like Psalms 46:10 to remind you to be still.
I know with all that is going on in our world and personal lives, this principle is one of the most valuable to learn to practice. Being still doesn’t come naturally for most of us. But God’s Word is true. It can be relied on. I’m praying for all of us to remember to turn to Him and His word for what we need to survive these trying times. The end of history is at hand. Scriptures confirm it.
We are not alone and His grace is always sufficient!