Why We Can Be Still When Life Feels Chaotic

Psalm 46:10 (NIV), "Be still, and know that I am God," is one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. Quoted frequently, printed on tshirts, and engraved on necklaces, it is a verse most Christians know like the back of their hands, and it is often used to remind us to stay calm when circumstances are outside of our control. We attempt to muster our own strength to 'be still' in these circumstances, missing one of the most important parts of that verse... the second half, which says "...and know that I am God."

I have often read that verse as a stand-alone verse, but it was only recently, when I read it in the context of the whole chapter, that it really came alive for me. Psalm 46 is a song about God's faithfulness to His people in the Old Testament, Israel, and how He fought on their behalf and rescued them from their enemies time and time again. In the first part of chapter 46, before God tells us to be still and know that He is God, we are told exactly what kind of God He is. Verses 1-2 tell us that, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea...". And in verses 5 and 6, it says, "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts His voice, the earth melts." We are told in verse 7 and reminded again in verse 11, "The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

So, before verse 10, the famous 'be still' verse, we are told that God is "an ever-present help in trouble", that He is "our refuge and strength", that He is with us and within us, and that the earth melts at the sound of His voice. THEN, we are told to be still and know that He is God... only after learning all about who our God is. The end of verse 10 says, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Knowing that He is the Lord Almighty and that He is our help, our refuge, and our strength is what empowers us to be still.

So, if you are having a hard time quieting your mind and resting in Him, try taking some time to meditate on who Psalm 46 tells us our God is and who He has been in your life. Answering some of the following questions in a journal can be a helpful tool to use (although not required) as you meditate on His faithfulness in your own life: What trials has He delivered you from? What battles has He fought on your behalf? How has He helped you in times of trouble? How have you seen His faithfulness in your life and the lives of others around you?

If you're having a hard time remembering His faithfulness in your life, seek the Lord and ask Him to show you. Remember that He is your ever-present help and that it is His delight to help you! Ask Him to help you to be still and rest in knowing that He will be your protection, your help, and your rescue again and again, just like He was for His people in the Old Testament, because "He is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, NIV). ♥

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