“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
What does that mean? To me, it means to stop and be quiet, to listen for God, even if I can’t hear anything. Too many times I take it upon myself to rush through life thinking I know exactly what God’s plans are for me. Sometimes I am too confident and when I reflect back, those are my plans that I’m following, not God’s. There have been a few instances in my life where I have completely given God control. I truly bowed down on my knees and gave Him everything. I was exhausted and spent. I was at my wit’s end with where I was in my life. Those times He showed up and showed out putting in place exactly what I needed. Those were also hard times to follow because I didn’t necessarily agree with what God had put in front of me and the goals that I needed to fulfill. But I followed. I may have been battling within myself, but I followed. Then, things did work out for the better. I could almost feel God smiling and saying “See, just listen.” I strive daily to continue to give God control and not do things my way.
Yoga teaches us to “be present” in the moment. I can most certainly do that for an hour or two but the minute my practice is over, my mind starts racing with all that I need to do and everything that keeps rushing at me. Anyone else feel like that? So I do feel that there is a difference between being present and being still. When I am present in my yoga practice, I truly let go. But, like I said, when my practice is over, there I go again trying to take charge. When I am still though, I am waiting (trying to be patient), listening and talking to God.
All too often in life we think we know what is best. I have been in that situation recently feeling like I was being led by God to be at a certain place in my life. When what I was wanting didn’t work out, I kept on trying to push through feeling confident that was God’s plan for me. All the while questioning if God wanted me here then why was I being challenged so much? Why were things so difficult? Why wasn’t I having more success than I was? Why? Why? Why? I was almost to the point actually screaming out loud WHY???
I made this sign off of wood from my great grandparent’s old barn. I will continue to learn to Be Still and listen. And every time I see this in my kitchen, I will repeat this verse. “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
