a place of stillness…

“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend. Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.” (Katharina von Schlegel- 1752)

Recently, the words to this old hymn have been pouring over my soul like cool running water. While my God is faithful and I am blessed, there have been moments where my soul feels as if it is in the midst of a storm. I find myself tossed about in a sea of uncertainty. And in those moments, the Holy Spirit speaks. “Be still Jennie, be still. KNOW that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

To truly KNOW that HE is God is a loaded idea. It begs for an attitude of faith without need for complete understanding. It is just something that we are to do. In that we can find rest; a “peace that passes ALL understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)

This morning I was meandering through our local farmers market with a couple of dear friends. They have been a great source of fellowship and unconditional love for me in the last year of my life. God dropped them right in front of me when I needed them most. We laugh together, we cry together, and we spend time praying for one another. As we walked together enjoying the smells of the barbeque, the warmth of the morning sun, and the sounds of people caught up in the company of each other, a breeze blew. In that moment I breathed in. There was significance. Nothing, has changed, and yet I could feel that peace. The peace of God. The peace that comes BECAUSE He is God.

I know nothing of what my tomorrows hold. (How many of us really do?) But for now, my soul is quenched and my heart is full. I will be still, KNOWING that God is on my side; pressing on toward a joyful end, where my Heavenly Father will receive the glory for all he has done.

So now, I ask you. Where does your peace come from? Where do you find your place of rest? Do you truly KNOW that HE is God? I don’t believe we ever will come to a place in our lives where this is second nature. I think our human self fights against this, but I do believe that in our every moment it is something we can strive for. And in each of those moments we can feel the sweetness of God rushing over us; a place of stillness.

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