Fear Not #6 – A Quiet Center
Can you imagine with me hearing God saying, “Enough is enough”?
“Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire” (Psalm 46:8-9).
The psalmist is telling us that war and destruction are inevitable. But so is God’s final victory.
It encourages us to know that one day he will exercise his power to bring a stop to the desolations he previously allowed. He will exercise his authority to bring a permanent end to wars and violence. He will reign on earth as the Prince of Peace.
Therefore, God declares, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).
As you read Psalm 46, did you notice that the very psalm in which we read the words “be still” is filled with commotion and noise?!
The earth is shaking. The waters are roaring. The mountains are threatening to tumble into the sea. The nations are raging war with each other. The kingdoms are moved. The sound of war is heard throughout the land.
And when God speaks all is quiet.
We live in difficult times that seem to be out of our control. And our own lives are filled with inescapable noise from our own anxiety and worry. We wonder at times if it will ever end. It can appear rather hopeless.
And it’s at times like these, in the middle of all this inner turmoil, that God invites us to a place where we can come away and just be with him, where we can feel ourselves letting all this noise go. Our thoughts begin to quiet down and the roaring going on within us gradually comes to an end.
It may take some time to learn to do this because letting go is not easy for us, but God is infinitely patient. He has lots of time. Words aren’t necessary because he knows. Slowly at this place of quiet we begin to feel ourselves breathing deeply and peace coming upon us.
I would like you to set aside a few minutes today to just sit with God. Write down in your journal what that was like for you.
~ Pastor Dave
