Be Still and Know

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. - Psalm 46:10-11

Does it ever seem to you that things are out of control? You may feel overwhelmed by information, decisions, your family's expectations, tests and test results. Sometimes it seems like it's just too much to bear.

I found out about the tragedies of 9-11 as I was listening to the radio while driving to work that morning. By the time I drove home that day, much more tragedy had been added, and a local church had placed these words on their outdoor sign: God is in control. I was struck with that simple truth, which I had tried to communicate during the day. God is in control. The horrors of that day were not outside His knowledge. As overwhelmed and saddened as we all felt, God remained in control.

The psalmist echoes that same thought in Psalm 46. He has poetically described God as our refuge and strength, reminding us of God's might and His sheltering capacities. Then He closes the psalm with a gentle, yet powerful statement: Be still and know that I am God. He reminds us that nothing is outside of God's jurisdiction. We don't have to guess or hope that God is in control. We can know with certainty. What a calming statement! When life seems overwhelming, God is still in control. Trust Him to take care of you.