STILLNESS
STILLNESS
Watching some of the news reports about Pope Francis death, caused me to think about being still. The reporter was in Vatican City and there were thousands of people, young and old, quietly wandering around in the square. He said the people that he had talked to; were there because they wanted to feel the pope’s presence and closeness, and needed the stillness in reverence to the pope. It started me thinking about God and the fact that we have to have stillness, in order to truly “connect” with Him.
My last couple of weeks have been super busy. A dear friend and I went to a ladies’ conference about 4 hours away. There were speakers, humorist, singing group and I have a booth to sell my books. What a blessing it was to visit with my friend to and from. I met women of different ages and stages of their lives. I was able to talk to them, pray with them, share my story. My booth was closed during the activities planned. Sitting in the stillness and listening to the speakers and singing, as a group of women, filled my heart. When I came back, I was so tired. I have fibromyalgia and lupus, besides caring for my 91-year-old dad. That week I got back; I had bunco on that Friday night here at my house and then had a dozen people over for Easter on that Sunday. At bunco, I started losing my voice. By Easter, my voice was almost a squeak and my chest started burning. It is normal for me to get bronchitis when I wear myself out. Went to doctor on Monday, and sure enough, I have bronchitis. I am now on an antibiotic and inhaler. Now, feeling better and talking better. You, ladies, understand what I am talking about, as far as so many “things” needing to be done. No time to be still.
Why, you are asking, am I telling you all that? Because in this world, we can be so busy that we forget the important things. I forgot that I needed to slow down, read scripture, sit in the stillness of meditation to God. Sit and do nothing. Our world is a busy world. We have to go to work, take kids to activities and the day-to-day busyness that we have to do. We have so many things that help us maneuver through the busyness: microwave ovens-cell phones-computers-premade dinners-cars-drive thru restaurants-washers and dryers-dishwashers.
Our world is a “find out now” society. We have TVs, Facebook, computers that we can hear the news while it is happening. But have all these things actually helped us? Do we ever just sit in the stillness and just be quiet? Do we take the time to visit the elderly or are we too busy? Do we sit in the stillness, rest and meditate on the Bible stories and words of wisdom from our God?
In Bible times, they were busy too. Think about it ladies! In order to fix a meal, an animal had to be killed or bought at the vendors, defeathered or dehaired (I guess those are words), cut up and then cooked. Then, after that meal, they had to start preparing for the next one, because they had to grind the wheat, knead the dough, let it rise and then cook it, besides all the other tasks they had to do. They did not have all the things to make them a get it “now society.”
The word stillness means: a state of quietude, rest and surrender-relinquish control-stop striving and trust in a higher power or divine presence-not move or make a sound in deep silence and calm. This stillness allows for a deeper connection, understanding and a meaningful spiritual growth.
The Bible is full of the people being told to sit in the stillness. Let’s look at a few and see how they can help us to get a life of stillness away from this busy world.
Psalm 46:10a, “Be still and know that I am God.” God tells us we need to quiet our minds, stop our frantic activity and sit in surrender to what God has for us and just be, in His presence. We have to set our minds, turn off our devices, let go of our worries and actively stop and sit in the stillness and trust and feel God’s power.
Exodus 14:14, The Israelites were fleeing Egypt, but here they were caught between the Red Sea in front of them and the armies of Pharoah behind them. The Israelites became very afraid and even said they would have been better in Egyptian captivity! Moses tells them, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” In other words, hush-be still-hold your peace and remember, God was in charge. God would take care of them just like He had already.
Lamentations 3:25-26, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” This verse tells me that God has His own timetable. Waiting is hard, but we must wait and have quiet confidence that He will bring us through our hard times.
Mark 4:39b-40, Jesus says “Peace, be still.” This is when the disciples were crossing the sea in their boats. Jesus was in one of the boats and was sleeping. The wind came up and started causing the waves to start filling the boat. They asked Jesus, who was sleeping, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Jesus tells the waves to be still. “…there was a great calm. But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” How can we have peace, if we refuse to sit in stillness and in remembrance of our Lord God?
In Bible times, they let the worries, fears, lack of patience and hope cause them to forget who God was, is and always will be. Don’t we do the same? The last two weeks of my busyness, have consumed my time and caused my stress level to be elevated, even causing me to physically get sick.
The people who were in Vatican City, remembering the pope, felt they could feel closer to him through quietness and stillness. Shouldn’t that be a lesson for us?
This blog has been for me to remember what is important and to refocus on remembering to, even in the busyness; stop-sit-breathe-read scripture-spend time in prayer talking to God-think and meditate on God’s words of peace. My focus, back on Him, once again has told me to center my core in obedience, trust, hope and stillness.
Have you remembered today to sit in stillness and focus on what is truly important? God our Lord and Savior!
Stillness. What a powerful word!
Till next time!
Keela