Be Still

 Today was Fathers' Day, a day where we remember and honor dads who sacrificed so much to raise us in the Word of God and give us a better life than the one they had. And any good dad will tell you that one of the many things that they struggle with from time to time is the deep-seeded desire to fix everything.

Whether it be a broken toy, a conflict at school, a heartbreak, or the trials adult children face in the real world, dads want to fix it. Sometimes they can, but oftentimes they cannot. And there are few feelings as humbling as a father knowing that there are some problems that they can't solve for their children.

But there is one Father who can.

And in order for Him to do so, He needs us, not just dads, to do something that goes against everything we, in this day and age especially, have been wired to do: be still.

Fathers are doers, they are fixers. They are always on the go. But in Psalm 46, God instructs them, and everyone, to take a step back.

“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”

This is hard to do. As mentioned, it goes against everything we have been wired to accept in today's society. We have a need to fix, a need for instant results, a need to rely on ourselves.

But we cannot do it alone. We need God. And in order for God to work his wonders, He wants us to do one thing: be still.

And Psalm 46 is not the only time in Scripture where God requires people to just stand back and let Him work.

Consider the often-told story of Mary and her sister Martha. While Jesus was over to their home on a visit, Mary sat at His feet and listened to Him teach. Martha, meanwhile, busied herself with chores around the house, wanting everything to be perfect for their Divine visitor.

And when she saw her sister just sitting and listening to Jesus, she asked Him to tell Mary to help her.

But instead of doing what Martha asked, Jesus said:

“'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'”

Be still, Martha. And how often do we fall into the same temptation as Martha! There is always so much to do, whether it be at work, around the house, or in our social circles. It is easy, therefore, to forget what should be the most important part of our lives: Jesus. His teachings can change our lives for the better, which in turn makes us a blessing to those around us. But we cannot hear it, we cannot take it in if we are busying ourselves with the things of this world. We must be still.

Consider also the night Jesus was arrested. When the soldiers and servants of the high priest grabbed Jesus, Peter took out a sword and cut off a man's ear. And what did Jesus do? He picked up the ear, and healed the injured man. What is more, he told his disciple to stand down.

"When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, 'Lord, should we strike with our swords?' And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, 'No more of this!' And he touched the man’s ear and healed him."

Be still, Peter. How could Jesus fulfill the work of the Father if his disciples refused to be still? It goes back to the Psalm: "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth."

One of the hardest parts of returning to the Fold of God is resisting the urge to rely on my own self to solve my problems. For too long, that is what I did, and it only buried me deeper in my own pain and misery.

Only by being still and ceasing to resist the call of the Holy Spirit have I found peace. And while the storms of life still crash around me, the stillness has allowed me to see how God is working in my life.

And while this peace does not guarantee that every problem will be solved the way I want it to, it does mean that, for the first time in years, I know that even suffering is part of God's plan, and that knowledge, as strange as it may sound, brings peace.

So, be still, and know that He is God. Regardless of what today brings, or tomorrow, or next week, you may face it with the knowledge that One who is mightier than you, than anything you may go through, is at work.