Be Still

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

 “I’m sorry to inform you but your test results reveal…”

As the doctor delivers news that no one ever wants to hear, your mind races with every negative outcome and fear quickly becomes panic. You hear your heartbeat pounding in your ears as the panic grips you tighter. How can there be any peace after hearing this life-changing news?

For too many years your child has been consumed by a mental health issue or has been seduced by lies that have led them to a life of addiction, and you are absolutely powerless to save them. That baby you once held so tenderly in your arms and promised to protect and provide for has grown up and the evil in this world has taken them away from you. The bitter reality of its power over your love has stolen your life too. How does peace come when your child is lost and in need of saving?

Your vision of grandparenthood only included idyllic days of baking cookies, belly laughs, and teddy bear picnics. You never even entertained the thought that your child's child would come into this world with extra obstacles to overcome...and you would give anything for it to be different for both of them. How can there be peace when your beloved grandchild is different from their peers and their life full of obstacles from first breath to last breath?

Together you made a beautiful life and dreamed about the future. No one loved or knew you like he did and now you are alone. The dreams you dreamed together are eclipsed by the nightmare you feel like you are living. How can peace ever come when grief torments you day in and day out?

I don't know the exact answers for any of these scenarios, but I know the One who does. My hope is that Psalm 46:10 will help you like it has helped me–"Be still and know that I am God." 

"Be still" is actually a command instead of a gentle invitation to rest.  In Mark 4:39 we see this command again only this time it is Jesus giving it. A great storm comes upon the disciples' boat while Jesus sleeps. They wake Him because they're afraid they're going to die. "Peace! Be still!" He commands. The wind ceases and there is a great calm. 

There are two very important things to note in this passage. The first is the disciples went to Jesus because they knew God worked through Him. We should too because He still does and only Jesus is the agent of peace.

The second is the great calm (peace) came only after the wind was commanded to be still.  Our calm doesn't come until we are still. Jesus is the only one who can calm a raging storm. He has authority over nature.  He has power over fear.

Psalm 46:10 was written as an encouragement for the Israelites during a time of war. While we may not be fighting a literal war as they were, we are all still fighting a war every day.  For some that war is widowhood.  For others it is a child who has lost their way or, God forbid, a terminally ill child . Some are fighting for their lives while others are fighting their own thoughts or haunting memories of past abuse. None of us leave this world unscathed.

The good news is God knows our pain and He is commanding us to come before Him and be still. Not because He is a dictator but because of His great love for us and the plans He has for us. He wants us to stop our striving–stop trying to live our lives by our own strength and live by His.  

So, be still and surrender your grief to the only One that can carry that heavy burden.

Surrendering doesn't mean that you are to just suck it up and pretend that your grieving was just for a season.  Surrendering means trusting God to carry you each and every time you are overcome by the all-consuming thoughts and emotions that grief is. He says that He will be a husband to the widow. He has not left you alone. 

Be still and surrender your child. It's hard to believe but God loves them more.  How many times I've had to trust Him with my own children because I knew only He could change the situation. As parents we're not conditioned to surrender our children but to protect them! Surrendering doesn't mean washing our hands of them but rather we are handing them to God trusting Him to take care of them and lead them where they need to go. 

Be still and surrender yourself to Him. Trust Him to write His name over the scars of your abuse. He is able. 

Come, be still and find peace in the midst of your raging storm. 

He's waiting for you.

Father, by your divine authority speak peace into my life and still my heart and mind as I am still before you. I know that my circumstances may not change, but I pray that I will have the faith to live out the plans You have for me. In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.