Last weekend, eighty of us Finding Hope leaders and members met together to become encouraged that through the battle of addiction with a family member, there is always hope.

The theme: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

It really was nice to take some time away from the hustle and bustle of life and focus on reflection, solitude, and prayer.

Why is it so hard to do this on a daily basis? I like to blame my phone, which is always begging me to give it attention. But if I’m honest, it was a struggle long before smart phones came out. It just seems we have lots of other things we “need” to do rather than find time to quiet our souls before God.

But Psalm 46:10 is not a suggestion – it is a direct command. We are to stop and still our bodies and our minds. And the purpose of this is not just to take a break and get some rest. This verse is not just telling us to live a contemplative life, or to stop and meditate on soothing thoughts. The whole point of this stillness is to rest in the knowledge of God. We are to sit quietly in the presence of the Lord of the universe, acknowledging His great power and His dominion over the world, and surrendering all of our cares and fears before Him. We are to calmly place ourselves under His divine protection.

Our intimacy with God and the grace we receive from Him is in direct proportion to our willingness to yield to and spend time with Him. The more time we spend in stillness with God, the more we will be able to hear Him and feel Him working in our lives. The more we will be able to know His great power over our circumstances.

The first nine verses of Psalm 46 speak to the turmoil going on in the world – wars, desolation, and natural disasters. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the alarming things we see in the news and circulating through the media. This confusion and unrest have plagued mankind for thousands of years. But these verses call out God’s providence over it all. They remind us of the fact that we do not need to fear any of it because He is our refuge and strength.

It is said that Martin Luther, when faced with formidable news, would say to his people, “Come let us sing the forty-sixth psalm.” 

Trouble is raging all around us. Oh, the wonderful comfort of just sitting still in the power of the One who made it all and holds it all. Take time to be still and reflect on God’s provision and goodness with this beautiful passage of scripture.

“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.”

Psalm 46