Be Still - The Truth of Stillness
When I was younger, I cried a lot. So much so that my dad got me a wall decal that said “Be still”
And if we go on to read the rest of that verse, it goes on to say “and know that I am God.”
“Be still and know that I am God”
I always took this verse as I knew stillness, believing it looks like the lake pictured - unmoved, serene, and beautiful. But the command God was asking didn’t make any sense. The moments I needed stillness most was the complete opposite. I felt chaos, filled with anxiety, and was always in tears.
It wasn’t until recently, God put in my heart to seek the truth of this verse. I searched deeper and found out “be still” comes from the Hebrew rapha which means to be weak, let go, release.
God got me convicted.
Being a person who loves planning and organizing and being in control, finding this out was a huge shocker. I thought for a long time I could do what I thought I needed to do an then come to God and show Him and He would be proud of me. I needed to pursue the chaos so I could be what I thought He wanted me to be. But the complete opposite was what he was asking.
In seeing this, I could feel God gently asking me to step into the weakness. In that, I can find his perfect strength (II Corinthians 12:9).
God placed in my heart that this life isn’t meant to be done with me trying my best and showing God the result. He can work when you release to Him and allow Him to lead and you follow.
What does rapha look like in practice?
Meditate on this verse daily and apply accordingly by asking yourself the following question -
What do i need to still before God?
What is it in this season, week, moment that needs to be released before God? What are you trying to control that was never meant for you to control? Take that and say a prayer to God that this is His.
When water is still, it’s easiest to see the slightest of movements. Same goes for our minds. When we can still ourselves and shift our focus to God before doing anything, meditating on this truth that He is God over whatever you are experiencing, you see God move.
It’s my prayer for you that you take this simple verse and meditate on it with God. See how the practice of being still before God can transform your life.
xx,
Jo