Daily Devotional

Psalms 46:10

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

What a comfort this verse is! There are two points that jump out at me in the first half of this verse; first, “be still.” For many of us this is actually a very hard command. In this day and age, the act of being still, to not act is quite difficult. As Americans we feel compelled to constantly do, to take action, to handle our own issues and problems. Our issues, problems, tasks, messes, etc are ours and ours alone and therefore it falls to us to deal with these things as quickly and effectively as possible.

However, in the midst of all the chaos, the noise, the hurt, the trials, and pain we are commanded to “be still.” When we are still and calm we are better able to take stock, to assess what is really happening, and to focus. It is often when we rush to action quickly that we make more mistakes, we hurt others, or completely misunderstand what is really happening and try to fix something that in truth is unrelated and doesn’t really solve anything and in some cases, makes things worse.

When we are still we can better hear and focus. Focus on what you might ask? “That I am God.” This seems like a very simple statement, but it is a powerful one. For us to understand the power in this statement we must understand what God has said about Himself. He is omnipresent or everywhere. He is omniscient or all knowing. He is omnipotent or all powerful. And yet God is also love. In other words who is better equipped to care about, know about, handle, and be there to take care of our issues, problems, hurts, and fears? God! He calls us to be still, be quiet and rest in the knowledge that while we may not be able to comprehend what is happening, He can. He is big enough to handle our greatest problems and yet cares enough about our smallest fears.

This verse gives me such comfort in hard times knowing that God is always on His throne and I am simply called to surrender to His will and wait on the Lord for His salvation! One of my favorite phrases in all of scripture is “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” This phrase appears in Exodus right before the parting of the Red Sea, and again in 2 Chronicles when King Jehoshaphat is facing Moab and Ammon coming to destroy Israel.

So the next time you are facing difficult times, pain, fear, or anxiety, remember to be still and remember that He is God. You are able to face your problems with His strength and not your own. Praise God!
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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