The Discipline of Being Still

As a little girl, being in the church sanctuary with my grandmother was always a place I dreaded going to. My grandmother sang on the choir with her twin sister my aunt and they would be there for hours. The smell of the old hymnals and the stained pews was more than enough for me. And, lets not talk about the smell of food when there was an anniversary or something. Sitting beside my grandmother when she was able to be with me , I was always  instructed to be still. That was a daunting task for a child brimming with so much energy. Why couldn't I explore what was going on downstairs where the food was?. Why couldn't I be with her in the back with the choir? I wanted to be anywhere but on this second pew from the front. I could feel the pastor  looking into my soul this close.

I didn't understand the significance of stillness then. It was a concept that was foreign to me. But, as Ive grown up and I have had children of my own the beauty of quietness  and being still is something that I look forward to.  I find myself reflecting on those moment's with a new perspective. In the hustle and bustle of life, its easy to forget the importance of just being. Its not merely about the physical quiet; its about finding moments of calm amidst the chaos.

Psalm 46:10 reminds us, "Be still, and know that I am God." It's an divine invitation to pause, to breathe, and to connect with something greater than ourselves. In the quiet moments I want you to search for clarity.  I want you to pray for God to help you to be still. We hear the gentle whisper of God amidst the noise in the pure quiet moments. Sneak away to your prayer closet to see what I mean. The gentle whisper of God often goes unheard, but when we allow ourselves to be still, we open the door to a deeper understanding of our faith and ourselves. Its in these quiet moments we can find solace, gain some insight and strengthen our connection to God.

So looking back on those church days with my grandmother, I now can see them through a different lens. What once seemed like  torture has transformed itself into a valuable lesson and power of being still. I encourage you that when you can to embrace those moments of quiet, whether in a church sanctuary or in the midst of your daily routine. Sit in the car before you go in the house, turn the radio off and just be. In the stillness you may just discover the clarity and connection you have been looking for. But you have to be open to it.

If you ever find yourself in a place of restlessness or you feel overwhelmed consider embracing the practice of being still. Find a quiet place and take a breath, allow yourself to be present in the moment. Allow yourself the time to recalibrate yourself.

Thinking of you today
Blessings!

1 Comment


Elliott - August 20th, 2024 at 10:19am

During thunderstorms when the summer weather was horrific as a little boy, my grandmother's instruction to her many grandchildren was always the same, "be still, the work of the Lord is going on". Sometimes we confuse activity with accomplishments. We think that WE have to be the ones doing the doing. There are times when we just need to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The psalmist instructs us to "be still and know, that I am God". Somebody is filled with anxiety today, child of God just be still and know...He is God and God has you.