Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Can I ask you a question, are you good at doing nothing? I don’t mind telling you, this is not one of my strongest traits. I have to practice it. There is always the next project to complete. The next meeting to attend. The next ball game, practice, or school event to get to.
We get on the merry-go-round and around and around it goes. We get on, we get off, we get on and we get off. Never seeming to complete what we intended to complete. And the cycle repeats itself over and over. Sometimes, it’s as if we are sleepwalking through life. Always chasing the next promotion, the next career, the next season of our lives. We can’t wait for the kids to go to school. We can’t wait for school to be out. We chase after the bigger house, the nicer car, the better job. When do we just stop and stand still and enjoy the blessings God has given us.? To truly hear God’s voice, we must retreat from the chaos of life and enter a place of quietness. An example of this was recorded for us in Mark 1:35 where it says, “very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
If you’re truly seeking a deeper relationship with God, or seeking solace, or seeking guidance, you must stand still. In Exodus 14:13-14, Moses told the Israelites to standstill and watch what God will do for them. This would be good advice for all of us today as well. We should all learn to standstill and watch the hand of God at work in our lives. If we’re truthful, there are many times when the hustle and grind of our daily lives, stop us from seeing the workings of God.
In Mark 10:49 we read, “And Jesus Stood Still.” This was on the occasion when Jesus being followed by a large crowd, heard a blind man named Bartimaeus, crying out “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stood still and healed Bartimaeus. If Jesus hadn’t stood still, Bartimaeus would not have been healed. Jesus was on a tight schedule. He had multiple events to attend before ascending up to heaven. Before his date with the cross. But Jesus in that moment of the day, found time to stand still.
My prayer is that we become people that are never too busy to hear the cry for help. That we are never too busy to stop and stand still. Isiaih 40:29-31 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tiered and weary, and young, men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” The truth is, we have all been tired. We have all needed our strength renewed. This is only possible when we take the time to do nothing.
John C. Maxwell said in his book “Think on These Things,” when pressures are pressing, schedules are screaming, and the world is whirling, don’t just do something -stand still.” May I encourage you today to stop and standstill. God knows exactly what you need, and He will renew your strength so you can soar on eagle wings.
