Be Still

I recently began studying the idea of rest in the Bible.  Our high paced society is starving for rest, for moments of stillness and peace.  Look at the Ten Commandments – we tend to skip right over “keep the sabbath day holy.” Over the next few weeks, I hope to wade deeper into this topic here as I explore exactly what rest should look like in our busy, 21st century lives.

For today, I thought this post I wrote a few years ago would be a great place to start…

Be Still

Have you ever seen someone in pain? If you are a parent, you have no doubt seen your children in pain.  If you have been a parent for any length of time you can, with almost 100% accuracy, listen to the cry of your children from afar and know if there is an immediate need for action.  Just the other day I heard a scream from the down the hallway. As I walked, I said, “I’m sure I’m going to find body parts detached when I get back here because nothing else would warrant such a scream.” Rest assured, all body parts were intact, no blood even.

Raise your hand if you are a momma.  Those of us that have born children know pain.  Kidney Stones anyone?  I have had four children and can assure you that my two kidney stones brought far greater pain (and a lot less reward) than childbearing.  What is the recommendation to reduce pain when you are in labor (babies are kidney stones fit nicely in this analogy…)? Breathe. Be Still. Relax. When are children are in pain, what do we say?

“Shhhhhhh.”

We try to calm them down, knowing that the flailing and screaming about is only increasing their pain.  We want them to relax, take a few deep breaths and try to relax their body in order to reduce the pain.  Relaxing and taking a breath doesn’t unstub a toe, unbreak a bone or make a kidney stone magically pass – but it does make the pain more manageable in the moment of greatest distress.

If you are working on a read through the Bible in a year plan, this time of the year, you are in the midst of the story of the Children of Israel.  This past week I read about their deliverance from Egypt and their first few weeks in the desert.  These folks get a bad rap. Rightly so on many levels, I understand, but how quick are we to judge them? The doubt, the murmuring, the complaining, all while God was literally in their midst.  In I Corinthians 10, Paul sheds some light on their situation: “Now all these things happened to them for examples; and they are written for our admonition…”  Their road is an example for us.  Their journey is a picture of the Christian life. Maybe more often than not, an example of what we shouldn’t do rather than what we should, but either way, we are told to pay attention.

One example for us to ponder today – In Exodus chapter 14 they are at the Red Sea, Pharaoh and his army closing in. They are terrified. There is clearly no way out. Their response in verse 11 seems silly to us, but only because we know the end of the story.  We know the Red Sea is about to part, the good guys win and the bad guys die. What about when it’s us? When the diagnosis comes from the doctor.  When the phone rings. When there is a knock at the door.  When someone who promised to love us forever delivers news that crushes our soul.  When the worst happens and our world shatters. We writhe in pain.  We cry out.  We crumble under the weight of the burden we’ve been given. We want to know the end of the story but can only see the pain and despair in front of us.

So what are we to do? As Paul asked us to do, let’s look back at the example in Exodus.  In that moment, Moses didn’t chide them for their feelings.

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”  “You will hold your peace and remain at rest.” “You need only be still.” (Ex. 14:13-14)

“Shhhhhhh.”

Just like we tell our children, God whispers to us, “Shhhhh.” “But don’t you know I’m in pain? Don’t you see the walls closing in? Don’t you see there is no way out?”  “Shhhhhh. I will fight for you.  Just be still.”

Psalm 46:10 is a very family passage – “Be still and know that I am God.” The word know in this verse is the same know in Genesis 4:1, “And Adam knew Eve…”  In stillness is the opportunity to know God – to know Him in a deep, intimate way.  If our children are flailing about and writhing in pain, it is hard to comfort them and take care of their wounds.  They could cause more damage and confusion in the moment.  In our moments of deepest sorrow, deepest hurt and blackest of nights, He is calling us to be still. Even in our moments of confusion and frustration over the seemingly simple things of life, He is calling us to be still. We want to know the end of the story.  We want to know that it all works out in the end.  We want to know our pain will end.  For the Children of Israel, the ending was a happy one, but for Job, he still lost his children.  Countless other people don’t get the “happy ending” we think they should. Maybe we haven’t.  The invitation is not to a happy ending – the invitation is to know God.  To know Him and see Him in a way that is only possible in the midst of pain and turmoil.

Daniel 3:17-18 is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. Four young men are faced with certain death.  Their response?  “…Our God who we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will delivery us out of your hand O King, But if not…”  They knew their circumstances were dire.  They knew that God could deliver them, but they also knew He may not deliver them out of the flames.  However, their choice was to stand with Him and trust Him.

Our God is good.  No matter what is swirling around us – on the good days and in the darkest nights – He is good and He wants to be known.  That is the precious gift of trials – to know Him.  May we rest in His arms and let Him fight for us.  Let us trust that He can see the end of the story and He knows the best way to get us to the end.  Our ultimate end – Him.