COVID-19 Novel Encouragement Sample

“Be still …” Really, God?

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a)

In these new and difficult circumstances, I am learning new and different things about myself, about God, and about my relationship with Him.

I'm learning I really don't like to be still unless I am sleeping, eating, reading, or catching up on my favorite shows on a streaming service. I had long recognized myself as having strong tendencies to be overly driven, performance-oriented. I have grown to cherish the God-intended joy and delight of hard work and accomplishing results as I fulfill His call and exercise my spiritual gifts. I can more quickly discern Satan's perpetual warping of God's built-in blessing given to a good steward's effort and excellence. But I don't like to be still. Really.

Because of the public health crisis totally beyond my control, I am relentlessly ambushed by stillness. Every day. Day after day. For who knows how long. And I don't like it. 

I can struggle against my circumstances or I can embrace a more complete view of reality: this is God's personal invitation to know and experience Him in a fresh, deeper way.

Psalm 46 begins with "God is our refuge and strength" and ends with "Be still, and know that I am God." In between is a litany of disasters, calamities, and chaos contrasted with the absolute power, presence, and stability of God. No matter how crazy the circumstances, God is both above and beyond them yet also very present in them and ever with His people.

In verse 8, the psalmist beckons, "Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth." Is Covid-19 among the desolations?

In verse 10, God commands us to rest and know that He is God. So clear and yet never fully comprehended. Then God simply declares, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" This will most certainly happen whether or not we slow down enough to recognize and respond to God as God.

As a final word in verse 11, the psalmist draws an incredible conclusion - this incredibly powerful God over all - He is with us. He is our peace and protection.

In the trials and tribulations of Covid-19, I find familiar choices that shape the direction and depth of my relationship with God. My basic options are to escape, endure, or embrace.

I can try to escape the fear and pain of my present circumstances, or I can attempt to summon sufficient strength to endure the present hardship to its end. The difficult third path is to embrace reality - the full reality of my present difficulties and how they affect me, my family, my work, people all across China and the world. I can willfully plunge into the even greater reality of God's power and presence in all things and through all who believe.

Embracing the real affirms that I believe God is in control and knows what is best. It frees me to rest in His love. To be still. Really.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for shattering our busyness with circumstances that not-so-silently invite us to be still. In that stillness, may we find You, patiently waiting for us to climb into Your loving, strong arms. Really.

By John Nugent, Beijing