Be Still And Know
I wonder if we truly comprehend the critical role that stillness plays in our lives.
I’m not talking about physical stillness. Rather, I’m talking about mental stillness.
Not the kind of mental stillness where one is encouraged to clear the mind of all intentional thought. That is a fruitless exercise that eventually allows racing and unsettled thoughts to circle back and invade our mental space. Again and again.
So what kind of mental stillness am I referring to?
The Bible says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”
When read in context, these words appear at the end of a song written to encourage God’s people to view their circumstances through the lens of reality.
The reality of God’s presence and protection.
The reality of God’s power and faithfulness.
The reality of God’s purpose and plan for their lives.
This kind of stillness is not about thinking of nothing. It is about intentionally quieting the noise around us so we can focus on what is true.
We can learn much from the cautious nature of the wild hare. Before venturing out into the meadow, it quietly looks and listens, taking in the reality of its surroundings. This practice helps ensure its safety as it goes about its daily tasks of finding food, shelter, and security.
“Be Still and Know” - Wildlife Whispers 2021 - Colored pencil and PanPastel on pastel paper - by Julia McFarland
The hare doesn’t find safety by pretending danger doesn’t exist. It finds safety by accurately perceiving reality.
In much the same way, as believers, we don’t find peace by pretending our problems don’t exist. We find peace by viewing them through the greater reality of who God is. When we choose stillness and truth, our hearts naturally begin to calm. In that stillness, we experience the familiar peace that surpasses understanding—a peace that only the believer in Christ truly knows.
I hope this image encourages you to choose stillness — not by emptying your mind, but by filling it with the truths of God’s Word. As you fix your thoughts on the reality of who He is, may your heart find the peace that only He can give.