Scripture: “Be still and know that I am God….” (Ps. 46:10)
Before news about the coronavirus became a part of our everyday routine, most of us were constantly “busy” just living our daily lives. We seldom took time to “be still” — except when we laid down, exhausted, to sleep at night. We found ourselves living our lives under the misguided assumption that we simply had too much to do, too much to accomplish, and too much to think about, to take the advice of the psalmist: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Now, because of forced business closures, along with school, church, travel, recreational and vacation cancellations, many of us find we suddenly have plenty of unexpected time to just “be still.”
Let’s not waste this “opportunity” to simply rest, spend quality time with our families, make plans for the future, but most of all, focus much of our attention upon our God, who is the ever-present source of hope, peace, and rest. One of my favorite hymns says it the best; I’d like to close by sharing the first verse of this beloved song with you:
“Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain,
Leave to thy God, to order and provide,
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still my soul, thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end.
Prayer:
Father, I pray today for comfort, hope, and rest for all your children during this time of uncertainty for our world. May we learn to “be still” and trust that “you are God and are on our side.”
Eleanor Privette