Today, I want us to examine the oft-quoted, Be Still and Know scripture from Psalm 46:10.

If you are a believer, chances are you have been advised to just be still and basically, let God be God.

Let Him take full control in whatever situation you find yourself in, while you surrender in calmness, actual stillness at times, and trust.

This will always be sage advice.

But why is this such a difficulty for us.

Be Still and Know – My Story

This is a life-verse for me.

In fact, the very first time I can recall hearing the voice of God was when I was in the hardest moment of my life and He broke through to tell me exactly that.

This is my first time sharing this on this blog but today, let me share about this life-altering encounter.

I have three children – all delivered via c-section.

For my last delivery, I engaged with all the staff much more than I had in my previous two surgeries.

In the others, trepidation and anxiety ruled and I perhaps only responded to a pertinent question or two.

This time however there was a festive mood and a light-hearted but supportive banter about everyone’s guess about the sex of the child. (I chose to stay in the dark)

Ironically, this was such a smooth surgery that when my baby boy came through with the loudest, strongest cry of all my 3 (as far as I know, I was knocked out completely for my first birth) I was convinced that everything was just perfect.

Something Was Different

But through my pride and relief at hearing the highly anticipated and admittedly satisfying newborn wail, I could sense an undeniable shift in the mood of the room.

There was an ominous hush I could not compute because again, my baby made no bones about confirming he was very much alive.

They brought my beautiful boy to me and I immediately saw that everything was far from ok.

Baby Marley was born that fateful evening with epidermolysis bullosa.

Almost all the staff, and had never ever seen this before and I certainly couldn’t make sense of my baby being born with missing skin.

There was no skin evident from his knee all the way down his foot and other patches of skin missing in other areas.

God Speaks To Me

Note, at the time of Marley’s birth, I was not yet a born again Christian.

I share this because it is so important for us to know that we have such a generous and merciful Father that He doesn’t reserve His grace solely for those who have chosen Him.

That night, while my heart was spiraling and my head felt like it was about to explode from the sheer shock of this unexpected difficulty, Abba gripped me.

I was sitting alone on that hospital bed, watching other mothers nurse their newborn babies (I had to opt for a public hospital in Jamaica).

I was feeling such intense despair, rocking back and forth like psych patient when a small but firm Voice said simply “Be still and know that I am God”

He arrested me in an instant and gave me a divine hug as the lifeline I desperately needed.

Those words quite literally saved my life.

He gave me truth to cling to.

Liberating Truth

Healing Truth.

Why We All Should Be Still And Know

Hearing God speak to me right when I was on the edge like that (I forget what my blood pressure levels were but they were dangerously high) was pivotal for my faith.

The plain truth is that we cannot afford to buy into the myth that we have control over nearly anything in this life.

“When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head”

~ Charles Spurgeon

The psalmist pens this verse as an affirmation that God is in full control.

There is no situation, conceivable or inconceivable that is not subjected to Him.

So friend, whether you are standing in the most chaotic period of your life, or whether you are forced to wade through incredible grief, trust that you need only to be still.

You can trust Yahweh to keep His promise.

He will hold your hand through every second of what might be your hellish moment.

He will count every tear.

And, if you surrender to Him, He will lovingly guide you into it through the power of His Spirit.

Know that the very breath you inhale now, comes from Him.

Trust Him for the next one.

Whatever your hurdle today, know that you can indeed do all things through Him because He gives you strength.

Before You Go

I really hope this encouraged you today.

Hard as it may be, let us determine to rest in Him and be still.

Being still can mean taking a praise break and listening to something beautiful and encouraging like this aptly titled track from Travis Greene.

Enjoy