There are these moments in life; striking, sweet and moving.
They are rare. They show up silently and without warning. But, when they come, and when you are able to take notice, time seemingly slows to a halt and it feels as if you are experiencing the event with heightened senses. A lightning storm. A super-moon. Your child learning to read. A glance shared with someone you are falling in love with. A breathtaking view. It doesn’t even have to be one of those once-in-a-life-time moments, instead, it could be an everyday type of glimmer. Something like reading with a good cup of coffee and as you look up, the light is just right. Or driving with a car full of kids who are all laughing and talking over the music and the clouds and joy are just so perfect, that your world goes silent for just that moment. The point is- there are those surreal, magical moments in life.
However- life isn’t all magical moments is it? It’s messy and full of hard hours, days and weeks. There are whole seasons of life, where suffering enters in. Things can be so emotionally overwhelming, or physically painful, that it weighs heavy on your soul. During these times, for me, those moments become strung together in a blurry mess of days, and in these instances, it also feels like time slows, but in a bad way and my senses aren’t heightened, they become numbed and muted.
So-we all experience these bitter and sweet things of life- What do we do with them?
How do we respond to the messy and the magical?
How do we keep ourselves from being numb, and be present instead during the everyday moments of life, able to give the Glory to God in each of them, salty, sweet or mundane?
We must implement the practice of grabbing these moments, being still and letting God speak quietly to our souls.
‘Be still’ is a command, and a very small research would indicate that the root of this verb is the Hebrew rapha, which means; to be weak, to let go, to release. Sometimes, in order to commune with the God of heaven, to draw near to Him, to *know* who He is as God of our lives, we have to release our grip and let go, riding the waves and letting Him carry us. Knowing, really knowing and loving and understanding God’s person gives us rest because it means that we know He really is in control, that He truly loves us as His children, that He only wants what is best for us and that is rest.
Being Still.
In that truth- we can be still knowing that He is God and in fullness, enjoy the magical moments and with hope survive the nightmare ones and give Him glory.
- SK
RESTING ON GOD
a Puritan Prayer from the Valley of Vision
O God, most high, most glorious,
the thought of Thine infinite serenity cheers me,
for I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed,
but Thou art for ever at perfect peace.
Thy designs cause thee no fear or care of unfulfillment,
they stand fast as the eternal hills.
Thy power knows no bond, Thy goodness no stint.
Thou bringest order out of confusion,
and my defeats are Thy victories:
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
I come to Thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows,
to leave every concern entirely to Thee,
every sin calling for Christ’s precious blood;
revive deep spirituality in my heart;
let me live near to the great Shepherd,
hear His voice, know its tones, follow its calls.
Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth,
from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit.
Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities,
burning into me by experience the things I know;
Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel,
that I may bear its reproach, vindicate it,
see Jesus as its essence,
know in it the power of the Spirit.
Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill;
unbelief mars my confidence, sin makes me forget Thee.
Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots;
grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to Thee,
that all else is trifling.
Thy presence alone can make me holy,
devout, strong and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God.
PSALM 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved
into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams
make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
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