Be Still and Know 

By Kiana Hershey

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 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. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”—Psalm 46

As we continue our week-long Christmas journey, today we’re looking at Psalm 46. Here, David begins by highlighting the characteristics of our God. He reminds us that our God is our refuge, strength, and most notably, our ever-present help in trouble. Only our divine Lord is constantly present with each individual all at the same time. Scripture tells us in John 16:7, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” When Jesus was here on Earth, He didn’t have the capacity to be everywhere at once. This puts into perspective the selfless gift of the Holy Spirit. God makes Himself available to everyone at all times and promises us that He will never leave our side, not even for a moment.

Ever-present is defined as “always there.” Our thoughts and actions are transformed when we are conscious of His nearness. We then recognize that peace is with us wherever we go because Jesus is peace!  

Verse 2 paints a picture of the earth in utter chaos, void of the peace of Christ. “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” The mountains and water David speaks of are symbols of what we value as stable and secure in our lives. When what we measure as pillars of stability become unsettled or shaken, our lives may feel as if they are unraveling. In those seasons, we usually experience a loss of peace . . . that is, if what we cling to for peace is earthly rather than divine. 

But David shows us that this doesn’t have to be the case when he says “We will not fear.” Why? Well, he can say this in full confidence because He knows that the One upon whom His peace depends is strong and unshakeable. So, when David says “We will not fear,” he is proclaiming a conscious and active choice. You see, choosing not to fear means choosing peace. Fear and peace cannot live in the same space.  

God calls us to take on a posture of peace. He says, “ Be still and know . . .” There are two parts to this. The first being “Be still.”  God isn't referring to putting a stop to movement or motion, but a moment of pause and perspective in our hearts. He is instructing us to take a moment to, as we discussed in yesterday’s devotional, take our eyes off our circumstance, our culture, our the season we find ourselves in and instead look up, to fix our eyes on Jesus, to see Him in His rightful place over our lives and over the world. 

And guess what? This isn’t a suggestion! Instead, it’s a loving command, coming from Him who knows what is best for us. It’s a command to pause in our hearts and take a moment to recognize His sovereignty. 

The second part of this command is knowing. To know here is referring to first-hand:  contact knowledge. It’s an anchor for our souls, a confident expectation and assurance. He calls both our hearts and our minds to this posture of peace, reminding us to be mindful of our thoughts. 

To know peace means to know Him. He does not desire for our thoughts to race or wander from submission to Him. Often, when we are not diligent in this posture of heart and mind, we may experience a lack of peace that we identify as fear or anxiety. If you haven't already today, take a moment to align your hearts and minds with Christ and walk out this command to “Be still, and know” that He is God. 

Questions for Reflection

• What does it mean to "be still"? How can you be still today?