Stop Fighting

Be still, and know that I am God!

Psalm 46:10

AS ERIC DRIVES HOME FROM WORK, the only word he can think to describe his life is chaos. Today was unexpectedly his last day at work—he was just laid off. His oldest son is on the verge of dropping out of college; there is no peace between his two daughters still at home; and Eric fears that his wife may have cancer. While sitting at a traffic light waiting for the light to turn green, Eric feels the pressure of life squeezing in on him.

Throughout Psalm 46, the psalmist paints a picture of the world in a state of chaos. When life feels out of control, the natural reaction can be to try to fight the chaos by working harder or doing more. But in this psalm we have a counterintuitive invitation from God to stop fighting our circumstances and just be still. However, being still in difficult situations can seem like we are doing nothing and wasting time.

In situations where you feel as if the water is rising over your head, being still before the Lord is often the best thing to do. Elsewhere, the psalmist declares that God is our refuge, our ever-present help in times of trouble, and that He is with us. When we are still before the Lord, we are able to remind ourselves that He is God and we are not. And we receive the peace that only He can give us. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, slow down and look to the Lord.

BOTTOM LINE

When life feels out of control, instead of trying to fight the chaos, start by just being still.

Moment of Strength: Psalm 46