10 Bible Verses About Being Still With God
The shaded canopy at the trailhead fluttered to the ground, one golden leaf at a time. I was in the woods because I was desperate to rest with God. Opening my Bible, I began my time by soaking in God’s truth as I meditated on calming Bible verses about being still with God.
Today, we’ll explore a list of Scriptures about being still and resting in God’s presence.
Then, we’ll talk about practical ways to be still with God when our minds are racing.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you connect with God in stillness daily.
10 Bible Verses About Being Still With God
Let’s begin by turning to God’s Word
Bible Verses About Being Still With God
1. Psalm 46:10, ESV
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
This is the most well-known Bible verse about being still with God.
In the original language, the Hebrew word for “be still” was raphah. This word denotes a cessation from striving, literally letting our arms hang loosely in inactivity.
God wants us to relax, slow down, and trust that he is in control.
2. Psalm 131:2
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Let’s not miss the key phrase in this verse. This verse refers to a weaned child.
A nursing child finds comfort from his mother’s sustenance, comforting himself as his mother gives him milk.
A weaned child has learned something different about comfort. This child has learned to find comfort from his mother even when he does not see signs of her provision. He has learned to fall into her arms and find comfort in who she is, not what she can give him.
What a wonderful image for us to hold onto!
God wants us to learn to find comfort in him even when we don’t see signs of his provision, even when he seems to be withholding from us.
3. Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
This was a promise to the Hebrew people as they fled from Egypt. The Egyptian army was vast and powerful. God promised that he would fight for them.
He fulfilled this promise when the waters of the Red Sea crashed upon the entire Egyptian army, drowning them.
God still fights for us today.
Do you need him to fight for you in any way? Talk to him about this.
4. Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
The Bible has a great deal to say about waiting patiently for God.
God’s timing rarely matches our expectations, but we can trust that he will fulfill his plans for us.
5. Mark 4:39
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Jesus spoke these words to the storm that threatened to capsize the disciples’ boat.
He is still capable of calming any storm we might face.
We can also trust that even when Jesus doesn’t immediately calm the storm, he is in the boat with us.
More Bible Verses About Being Still With God
6. Psalm 23:1-2
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
God is a good Shepherd. He is always with us.
We can walk in peace because he walks with us.
7. 1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
God cares about each of us deeply. As we rest in his presence, he invites us to cast our cares on him. He will give us peace in return.
8. Lamentations 3:24-26
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
God is our portion.
He supplies as we need.
As we wait for him, he gives us peace and sustains us.
9. Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Waiting on the Lord includes trusting his timing.
We don’t rush ahead of him.
As we wait on him, he gives us strength.
10. Psalm 91:1
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
God is a safe dwelling place for his children. He protects us and surrounds us like a shield.
Cling to this as you rest in him.
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Let’s now take some time to talk about how to quiet our minds with God when being still doesn’t come easy.
Practical Applications of These Bible Verses About Being Still With God
When I can’t quiet my mind, I find a few minutes to walk outside. I breathe deeply and ask the Lord to help me embrace his invitation in Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
How to “Be Still and Know That I Am God”
As I shared above, the original language offers helpful insight into God’s invitation to “be still.” In Hebrew, the word for “be still” is raphah. Raphah is more than merely sitting down and silencing our thoughts. Raphah is an image of letting our hands drop. It can be translated as “sink” and “relax.”
I appreciate this image. God is inviting us to let our arms relax as we lean into him and allow him to take care of the many commitments we try to keep afloat in our lives. He is asking us to let our arms hang loose and surrender control as we let him be God.
One of the best ways to quiet your soul is to create space where you can regularly be still and let God be God. You might think of it as your “safe space.” Your safe space might be the silence of your bedroom, a special chair, a tree in your yard, a park down the street, or the only place where moms of little ones ever find peace: locked in the bathroom.
For the next week, I encourage you to begin each day with just a few minutes spent resting in stillness with God. Let go of your cares, let your arms hang loose, and thank God for being Lord in your life. Be still, and let God love you. God is waiting to meet with you, and he wants to revive your weary soul.
Where to Begin
Here’s what it might look like to connect with God in your safe space this week:
Begin your time by resting with the Lord and letting your thoughts settle. Literally, let your arms hang loose as you imagine God caring for you and loving you. Breathe deeply and slowly. Thank God for being sovereign over every detail of your life.
George Muller was famous for saying that the first business of each day was to make himself “happy in the Lord.”
What would it look like for you to make yourself happy in the Lord?
For me, this looks like sitting by a window and getting lost in the glory of God’s created world.
Some mornings, I light a candle and watch it flicker. On other mornings, I watch clouds pass by or admire birds at the bird feeder. I often read poetry, and I almost always begin the day by soaking in a Psalm before I begin my scheduled daily Bible reading.
Most importantly, I remind myself that I captivate Jesus’ heart with just one glance in his direction (see Songs 4:9).
I imagine the joy of his countenance shining upon me as we sit together and enjoy one another. In the same way two-year-old Aiden often says, “I’m happy to be with you, Mom,” with childlike faith, I tell Jesus I’m happy to be with him.
I think about the joy that fills my heart when Aiden speaks these words to me, and I relish in the joy the Lord feels when I speak these words to him. I then sit and enjoy him for a few short moments. This practice revitalizes my heart.
How to “Be Still and Know That I Am God”
I encourage you to try these steps. Rest with the Lord, and tell him you’re happy to be with him. Let his joy breathe life into your weary soul.
Read here for 10 Bible verses about being still with God and resting in him. #joyoftheLord #restinJesus #seekingGod Share on X
If these Bible verses about being still blessed you, I encourage you to explore our family devotionals and library of free devotionals and eBooks below. I also pray that your time spent in stillness will lead you to life-changing encounters with the Living God. He is waiting.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
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A Free Devotional to Help Learn How to “Be Still and Know That I Am God”
If these Bible verses about being still with God blessed you, I have a gift for you. Space for Your Soul to Stretch is your invitation to create space to connect with God. Each day invites you to encounter God’s created world and spend time in his written Word. You will walk away from this journey replenished and refreshed. It is yours right here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
