Snow Day

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.

Psalm 46:10

One of my favorite things has always been snow days. I grew up in the South, where snow days are a rare and celebrated event, especially if you’re a child. When it happens, schools are closed and everyone is encouraged to stay home while snowplows clear the roads. Since I married a teacher, a snow day means everyone gets to stay home, sleep late, and eat snow cream for breakfast. Whenever the TV weatherman even hints about an upcoming snowstorm, I’m so excited I can’t sleep! To this day, if an overnight storm is predicted, I get up throughout the night to peek out the window, watching for the first snowflakes.

I love it when snow blankets our neighborhood, and I’m amazed by the stillness it creates. For me, it’s a visible reminder of the command to be still and know that God is God.

But lately I have found how difficult it is in life to capture that snow-day stillness year-round, regardless of the weather. That’s when God reminds me that His commands are timeless and are not dependent on the seasons, or our schedules, or how we’re feeling at the moment. The many times I find I have overcommitted myself and am not forced to be still by inclement weather or ill health, I quickly forget who is in control of each day I am given. It’s then that I need to pray, “Help me, God, each and every day to stop, be still, and know You are God!”

Whether it’s a snow day or not, stop whatever you are doing. Go sit in the car, the tub, or your favorite chair—and be still. Spend a few minutes thinking only about God.