I’m sure that we are all familiar with the words from Psalm 46:10 – Right!
“Be still and know that I am God”
(New International Version).
In fact, I’d hazard a guess that many people the world over regardless of their religious affiliation can relate to it, or at least would recognise those words in one form or another.
You see, most people strive, or long to find some semblance of peace and solitude in the act of being still, or quieting the noise. Be that through meditations, relaxation techniques, getting in touch with nature, listening to music, or even a myriad of other approaches.
Earlier this year I wrote about being still and how I’ve found that extremely difficult at times, even on those days that I am, in essence, forced to be still because my body (due to my health condition) tells me NO!
But maybe, just maybe we have been approaching this verse slightly wrong, as we’ve been focusing on the aspect of stillness in relation to the quietening oneself, rather than what the goal of being still is – to know God! As to know God involves so much more!
In fact the verse goes on, it says that;
“He will be exalted among the nations,
He will be exalted in the earth.“
Therefore, be still, know God, because He is!
It’s almost as if we have missed the point of the Psalm which in effect teaches us to be still, so that we can focus on Him and what He has done / is doing, and then do what He has called us to do – Because He is God!
Maybe the issue of interpretation and translation has a lot to do with it. According to Karen Holmes from Inspired to Faith the phrase “Be still” is actually derived from the Hebrew word ‘rapha’ which means “to be weak, to let go, to release.” Essentially, it means to surrender.
The “and know” in its original Hebrew form, taken together with “Be still,” actually contains the meaning “in order to know.”
So, in essence you can tweak the wording of Psalm 46:10 to read “Surrender – in order that you may know…”
The beauty that we have in this day and age in looking at Scripture, is that we have a multitude of translations and interpretations, which try to expand our thinking around verses that have become so familiar to many of us. Previously we may not have necessarily made the connection between scripture and our everyday ‘today‘ lives.
The Passion Translation says; “Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realise that I am God.” The Contemporary English Version says; “Calm down, and learn…” God’s Word says; “Let go of your concerns! Then you will know…” Stop striving. Stop fighting. That’s enough! Step out of the traffic.
You see, God’s truth is that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we surrender ourselves, our lives, our will, our desires, to Him – When we stop and focus on Him! He is able to more fully reveal Himself to us and we are more able to fully experience Him.
So, can you trust God enough to let go of those things that you are clinging to so tightly, in order that you may know a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him?
What would it mean for you to release that thing to Him?
Afterall, peace on the outside only truly comes from knowing God on the inside.
Surrender yourself in order that you may know that He is God… your refuge; your strength; your present help in trouble; your comforter and King in uncertain times; your security; your center; your steadfast ruler; the commander of the universe; the Lord of Hosts; the God of Jacob; the Victorious One; the One before whom every knee shall bow, on earth and in Heaven.
Being still is more than just calming down, or even taking a break from the day to day challenges that encompass us – surrendering looks more like setting aside all that stuff and more.
Occasionally the illustration is used about leaving one’s bags at the door – unfortunately when we spend times being still, we stop for just a little while and then return to the doorway pick up those bags again and return to the norm – slowly pushing God to the extremes of our lives again.
God longs for us to leave the bags at the door and not pick them up again and to continually take Him into our everyday.
Being still is not a passive act; sitting back, taking it easy, doing very little and waiting for some Divine inspiration to happen.
Being still, surrendering is laying it all aside, so that we can focus on Him and then do what He has called us to do.
If we look at examples in scripture, we see several men and women initially resisting God, or a situation He has called them to, which is totally reasonable and understandable. But they often come to a point in their life, after spending some significant time being still, surrendering to God and then proceed with what it is that He would have them do.
Jesus himself often spent time surrendering His all to the will of his Father.
I wonder if we have become so entrenched in our thinking, our ways of operandi and the day to day stuff that fills our lives, that we have lost sight of what it is that God has called us to do and or is longing for us to do, all because we are caught up in the machine of life.
You see, life has a habit of being filled up with a whole heap of stuff that keeps us busy, swirling around us like a constant drone, crowding out God and overwhelming us to the point of exhaustion. Where even the things of ministry can at times end up being a drain on our very souls, sucking the very lifeblood out of our souls.
So, when life is swirling around you and you’re feeling overwhelmed, how can you “be still” and surrender in order to experience the glory of God?
Identify what it is that is overwhelming you or you are anxious about?
Discuss this with a trusted confidante, be that a close friend that is able to help you to unpack it in a bit more detail; a minister, pastor, officer, spiritual director, counsellor, mentor, coach or guide.
Take it to God in prayer – individually and together with the above person.
Afterall, the Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians that we shouldn’t “worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (New Living Translation)
Some final questions to ponder: What does surrender look like for you?
What is God calling you to release or surrender to Him right now?
Do the Hebrew meanings change the way you think about this verse?
The life and times of Perry... 