Learning to Be Still With God When Life Is Full
With each passing day, the vibrance of autumn is lost to the sleepy beige of winter. On a cloudy evening, I mourn the loss as I sit in the woods and inhale the pungent scent of fallen leaves. Pulling out my Bible, I flip to a familiar Psalm. It reads, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). I’ve been learning to be still with God for decades and have yet to master the practice.
My mind has been racing again lately, and silencing my thoughts today feels next to impossible.
Instead of being critical of my racing mind, I am kind to myself today. I lean against the trunk of a hemlock and let the thoughts pass like clouds in a sapphire sky. Finally, after several minutes, my mind settles.
Silence.
Stillness.
The sound of creek water flowing over mossy boulders and blue jays cackling in the valley.
Learning to Be Still With God
I glance at the Bible on my lap. A few years ago, I discovered the Hebrew translation of the words, “Be still.” The literal Hebrew phrase is more accurately translated as, “Let be.”
It is an invitation to let our arms “hang limp” or sink into a posture of surrender to God. When we can relax with God in this way, we convey our trust in his sovereignty, which is the precise sentiment beneath the words “and know that I am God.”
God is inviting us to lean into him, let everything else be, lay down the juggling acts in our lives, let our arms hang limp, and let him be God. We let God be God when we open our clenched fists and surrender our desires for control.
We let God be God when we acknowledge that we do not hold our lives together—he does.
As obvious as it might seem, I need to create space to remind myself that God is in charge—and I am not—on a regular basis.
As obvious as it might seem, I need to create space to remind myself that God is in charge—and I am not—on a regular basis. #bestill #encounteringGod Click To Tweet
Learning to Be Still Beyond Your Devotional Time
I sort through a few weighty issues as I sit by the creek with the Lord.
When it’s time to arise and return home, I sense a gentle reminder to stay in step with the Spirit of God—to cultivate a posture of inner stillness—as I return to the busy, noisy everyday parts of my life.
God calls us to go away to quiet places and meet with him, and he wants us to slip away and meet with him in silence. Jesus often slipped away to quiet places to pray, and we should do the same.
However, this is where some of us stop.
We seek God in our daily devotional time, and then we go live our lives and have a hard time remembering God as we go about our daily routines.
Meanwhile, God has something better for us: He is inviting us to cultivate stillness throughout designated pockets of time within our busy, everyday lives.
What might this look like?
God is inviting us to pursue stillness—space to quiet our souls and connect with him—all day long.
He has provided built-in opportunities for connecting with him in stillness while we drive our cars, stand in line at stores, sit in waiting rooms, eat lunch, and unwind at the end of long days.
Most of us don’t think twice about listening to the radio while we drive, checking our phones while we wait in line at stores, getting caught up on texts while we sit in waiting rooms, zoning out to daytime talk shows while we eat our lunches, and watching the news for “relaxation” at the end of long days.
There’s nothing wrong with any of these habits; however, these habits can prevent us from encountering God in replenishing ways as we go about our days.
Finding Stillness Beyond the Silent Moments
Lately, I’ve been learning not to pull out my phone when I’m sitting in waiting rooms or standing in lines.
I’m learning to turn off the radio and connect with God while I drive.
I’m putting away the gardening magazine while I eat lunch.
I no longer spend the last moments of my days reading.
I put the book on the nightstand and end the day in silence with God.
Sometimes, he reveals an important truth during this time. Most of the time, nothing spectacular happens. I drift off to sleep like a child falling asleep in her Father’s arms. I sense my Father’s delight as I rest in his arms—like a little girl resting safely with her Daddy.
What would it look like for you to embrace God-given moments for stillness interwoven throughout your days?
Moments for stillness are woven throughout the tapestry of our days. God is waiting to meet with you in these moments.
Moments for stillness are woven throughout the tapestry of our days. God is waiting to meet with you in these moments. #God #silence # seekingGod #slowingdown #bestill Click To TweetA Free Devotional Book to Help You With Learning to Be Still:
Lastly, I have a gift for you today: my free devotional Space for Your Soul to Stretch.
Does the idea of slipping away to recharge and refresh sound inviting? Space for Your Soul to Stretch is your invitation to create space to deeply 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.
These two books are free on Kindle Unlimited or available to purchase in print:
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book for free on the Kindle Unlimited plan or for 12.99 in print right here. This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
Calling all mothers and daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find your free Kindle Unlimited eBook or buy it in print for just 11.99 right here.
