PEACE AND PURPOSE BLOG SERIES
Why is Being Still So Hard? by Deanne Metzloff
“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
These words had been on my heart for months. I used them in passwords and wrote them on sticky notes.
I used them to meditate:
Deep breath in, Be still,
Hold, And,
Exhale, Know that I am God.
But distractions left me unable to still my mind, or maybe I was scared. What if I made time to be still and God was too busy to show up for me? We’re in a pandemic, people are dying of cancer; surely, God has better things to do than soothe my weary soul.
After five months of a global pandemic, I was frazzled and tired to the bone. Having canceled a dream vacation due to travel restrictions, I instead planned a week setting up our winter rental. We hadn’t seen the apartment, not even pictures, but a drive-by had confirmed my fears – a run-down property in a tough neighbourhood.
Looking for some me time, I planned a short getaway, a trip to a harbour village I had visited in my youth. I soaked up the familiarity of the harbour, the smells of the water, gasoline, and fried fish and chips. I meandered through the shops – a used book store, a chart shop, and a souvenir shop.
I bought a ticket for a boat tour, worried it would disappoint compared to my memories, but the lure of the water won out. I climbed the stairs to the upper deck and chose a seat by the railing, guaranteeing a good view.
The tour cruised past various breathtaking sights, God’s handiwork evident in the beauty of the landscape. Tourists rushed from one side of the boat to the other, clambering for the best views, while I stayed still and drank it all in.
On the return trip, we set out across the open water. No land in sight, just the clear blue water reaching up to meet the sky. I remembered this view, sitting on the bow of our boat, legs swinging over the water.
With no distractions, in the stillness of the moment, He filled my cup. Gone were the worries of the trials the next week would surely bring. I felt His peace, His promise of goodness – so overwhelming that tears threatened.
Psalm 46:9 (NIV) says “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth”. We don’t need to find quiet moments to be still. God will ensure those moments happen for us. He will stop the chaos in our world, just as Jesus calmed the storm. Mark 4:39 tells us “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”
The peace I found that day is available to all of us if we open our minds and our hearts to God. We don’t need to chase after quiet moments; God will look after calming the storms. We only need to “Be still and know” (Psalm 46:10).
Deanne Metzloff is a mom who enjoys spending time with family and friends, seeking adventure in the outdoors and between the pages of a good book. She loves God and celebrating His wondrous creation through movement and words.