"Be still and Know that I am God"

"Be still and Know that I am God"

I was raised in a home where there was little stillness. Actually, there was no stillness. There was anxiety, fervor, tension, and always the answer to problems was to do more, to scurry faster when things were not going right. The way of doing things was to react, sharply, to negative situations.

For twenty years now as a Christian, I have been learning from Christ and his word how to un-learn that pattern. But, the things we learn in childhood can be so powerful in shaping us, can they not? Both in my up-bringing and in my family DNA, there is a tendency to have "hot tempers" and sharp reactions.

Don't we all need to become part of our heavenly family and overcome our fallen human natures!? yes, and especially in times that are frustrating and filled with anxiety. God calls us to trust him, to wait on him.

I have recently re-committed to God to make an active effort to be non-reactive to the charged and anxious atmospheres of life. Because I know that relying on emotions and the human point of view means that I am not relying on God.

Just today, not more than an hour ago, some negative situations happened at work which would prompt anyone to make a sharp and sudden response. But, my God says "Be still and know that I am God." He wants me to turn to him, when anxious circumstances pressure me to react with a sharp response - quickly move to action and respond with finality. DONE.

Well, not so fast. Did I mention God is teaching me NOT to do that? I received one phone call: "take action, now." But, before I did, I wanted to be sure and be calm; to be spirit-filled IN MY JOB, IN MY DAILY LIFE. (it's taken me a long time to learn that).

Instead of reacting to the call, I stopped and said "Lord, I refuse to live as a slave to anxiety and emotions. Please grant me serenity; serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Give me your peace." I breathed deeply and folded my hands and sought divine patience and peace before doing anything.

Then, in less than two minutes from hanging up the phone, another call came in. My colleague, on the other end said "I hope you didn't do anything yet!" I calmly responded, "not yet." He said "There has just been an unexpected change. An employee just resigned. Don't do anything, please just wait." Again, I chose not to react. (The temptation was to react with harsh words.) Five minutes later, a department leader walked in my office and asked "did you do anything?" I calmly responded "not yet". He breathed a sigh and said "Oh, good. We have to make sure to do nothing until we assess the situation. You're a good man. Most people would have responded harshly. Please wait. I will get back to you." I said "absolutely." He walked out, clearly relieved that I did not react to the first phone call.

Wow.

How often do we fail to heed the word of God and miss the opportunity to be the instrument of peace? How often do we act in the way that is "natural" to our human nature, and miss an opportunity for the peace of God to intersect our lives? How weak are we, when we live only by the human point of view? How strong may we become by heeding the word of God, even as simple as "Be still and know that I am God."

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I wrote this yesterday and could not get the software to work to publish the blog. I decided to wait. Well, today the matter resolved completely. I have seen the positive out-come and things turned out very well; very well indeed. That would not have been possible, if I had not taken that moment to stop and wait on the Lord.

- Scribe