Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah (Psalm 46:8-11)

Be Still

Before refrigerators were invented, icehouses were used to store and preserve food. These icehouses had thick walls, no windows, and a tightly fitted door. Large blocks of ice were obtained during the winter and covered with sawdust to prevent melting. This would allow the ice to last well into summer. One day, a man lost his valuable watch while working in the icehouse. He and his fellow workers diligently searched for the valued timepiece without success. A small boy heard of the problem and slipped into the icehouse. He soon emerged from the cold with the man’s watch. The men were amazed and asked the boy how he found it. He said, “I closed the door, lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.” For the cool darkness of this dated icehouse comes the timeless reminder of Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”

Life has been characterized as “a rat race and the rats are the only ones winning.” Every generation struggles with trying to fit everything needed to survive into one day. Technology does not simplify day-to-day activities; instead, it often increases the workload. Life is busy. It can be so busy that it makes the head spin. Marriages suffer because the husband and wife have no time for one another. Children become latchkey recipients when their parents are too busy to spend time with them. Older people are left neglected by families that cannot find the time to visit. A mad rush is made toward a common end – death – and then everything stops. Everyone takes time to die.

One of the great Andy Griffith story plots involved a wealthy businessman rushing through town when his car breaks down. Throughout the story, Andy and Aunt Bee spend a slow-paced day as Gomer takes his time fixing the car. Nothing happens quickly. The moral of “Man in a Hurry” is the need to slow down in life. In a fast-paced, busy world, what is forgotten is who God is. God created the world and set the clock to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Adam and Eve had the same amount of time that the modern, busy, hectic, and rushing-about person has today. What is done with the hours of the day is what makes a difference. Everyone chooses how to spend their day.

It takes time to listen to God. Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God – and that takes time. The song is sung, “Take Time To Be Holy,” by people who struggle to find time for God. It is impossible to have a relationship with God without taking the time to know God. He wants you to know Him. “Be still and know that I am God” is good advice for today, tomorrow – and the rest of the busy week. Slow down. Take time for family. Spend time with God. It will nourish your soul.