Be Still and Know

Psalm 46:8–11

AS I WRITE THIS, the thermometer registers in the nineties. The air is still and heavy. The dog is panting at my feet, the sun is high, and the birds are silent and still. Within a matter of hours night will fall, the dark sky will be ablaze with moon and stars, and sleep will force itself on me. As I slumber, life will continue uninterrupted. Appreciated or not, the canvas of nature will go on being painted by the finger of God.

Somewhere, many miles removed from where I live, crops are pushing their way toward harvest. In another direction, waves roar and tumble onto shore and sand with a rhythm so enchanting none can keep from staring. Windswept forests across the mountains will sing their timeless songs as timber and foliage blend their voices in the inimitable harmony of the hills. And desert animals will scurry in the shadows of cactus and rock, maintaining their tiny existence free of concern. There’s something about meditating on creation that reminds us of the goodness and faithfulness of God.

Do you need the reminder as much as I today? Consider this ancient truth:

Come see the glorious works of the LORD: See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

PSALM 46:8–11

The longing of one’s heart for deep peace is somehow recaptured when we meditate on the greatness of God.

Need a respite from your care? Struggling to calm the nerves of your anxious soul? Go out tonight under the dark night and gaze at the heavens. Or take a long drive into the country in the coolness of evening. Don’t speak. Just peer into the night sky as you take in the beauty and think of the wonder of creation. When you do, you will discover what it means to be still and know that He is God.