Be Still and Know That I Am God
Most of us finish high school with no desire ever to return. But that is exactly where I found myself a few years later. Back in school. Only this time as an English teacher. My commute meandered down the coastline, skirting the shores that California is famous for. This stretch along the Pacific Coast Highway is known for its scenic beach towns and panoramic ocean views. But when you see something every day, it becomes commonplace.
Most mornings I didn’t have time to savor the beauty of the deep blue beside me. I was too busy calculating the minutes and speed necessary to reach the school where I taught.
Not coincidentally, God felt distant during this season of my life.
Driving through the fog, I tried to use my time in the car for prayer. But my prayers would degenerate into complaints as I began to question God’s presence. Where are You? Why won’t You speak anymore?
A bend in the road revealed an expanse of water that took me by surprise. The waves reached unbelievable heights before falling onto the sand. Something magnificent was happening out there that I didn’t see two miles up the road.
I saw a turn-out just ahead and deliberated whether I should pull over or not. I wanted to stand still, with my sweater wrapped around me, and breathe the salty air. I wanted to hear the crash of waves and watch the display of this oceanic splendor.
I glanced at the clock on my dashboard. Not a moment to spare. So I kept driving. Around another corner the trees shielded my view and the road narrowed once more.
Doubt seeped in. I should have pulled over. I had the chance but passed it by. Still, my responsibility reminded me of the clock. I needed to get to work. Disappointment wrestled with reason. Then I heard God speak to my soul. Not with an audible voice, but a voice still the same: I am here. You’re the one moving so fast you can’t hear me.
God had been speaking all along. But I was too busy to notice—too busy to listen. Busy doing my job. Busy raising a family. Busy serving at church. My daily life had reached NASCAR speed, racing from one commitment to the next. I didn’t have five minutes in my crammed schedule to stand in awe of the handiwork of God.
I pulled into my parking space at work, but before I left my car I lowered my head and asked for forgiveness. All my striving, all my hard work . . . what was it for? Was this the life I really wanted? Racing on highways. Rushing down hallways. There must be something more.
I sensed Him calling me to be still. That’s all. To be still and listen.
Parents often tell their small children to “be still.” I know I did. How funny to think that God tells His children—tells us—the same.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10
Some seasons will inevitably be busier than others. Busyness, however, can easily become a mindset—a way of life. But that’s not the mindset I want to have. In 2017 I’m choosing to keep a slower pace on a simpler path. Because our Father is calling us to be still and listen. He’s speaking. He really is. It’s up to us to slow down long enough to listen.
Throughout the Week . . .
With each new year, we often look in the rearview mirror to reflect on the previous year. It’s also a time to consider some of the goals or lifestyle changes we want to include in the coming year. This weekend at church, Pastor Mike Breaux challenged us to reflect and consider some ways we might slow down and be still.
- When driving on the freeway, perhaps let the other guy go in front of you.
- When entering a restaurant, perhaps hold the door open for the people walking in behind you (and let them put their name in ahead of you).
- When looking for a space in a parking lot, perhaps let someone else take the spot closest to the store.