Be Still.

"Then Jesus got up and said to the wind and the waves "Be still," and they were immediately calm." ~ Matthew 8:26

Never has the Lord spoken those two words into my life more than in these past summer months. And in trying to be still, I have been getting one of the most grueling workouts of my life.

My "being still" and "waiting" muscles are by far the least used in my spiritual "body". In comparison, my "doing" muscles are disproportionately HUGE. When a trial arises in my life, my first instinct is to fix the issue as quickly as possible. Waiting is rarely an option in my mind, until it comes to my attention as a last resort for salvaging a situation.

But what I've realized recently is that I can't do everything. I can't fix issues that are beyond my capabilities to fix. Often the Lord calls us to trust in Him, instead of act on His behalf. He doesn't need me to play God. He needs me to accept my role as the vessel through which His Spirit moves -- I am the vessel, not the Spirit itself.

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act." ~ Psalm 37:7

Ah yes. That key word "patiently". I find that the longer I wait for something to be fixed, the more anxious I feel, and as time goes on I begin scrambling for a sign from heaven that I can finally do my part and jump into the fixing process.

I don't do that with practical things in my life... If my laptop is broken, I leave it with the experts at Best Buy, and wait patiently for them to do what they have been trained to do. I trust that they are capable and that everything will be fine. Until then, I rest, realizing that there is nothing I can do to urge the process along. My calling incessantly would only delay the process. So I sit back and relax until the work is completed and my laptop is returned to me restored.

Can I not trust the Lord to fix the difficult situations in my life? God is complete in wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 2:6), His ways are above my ways and His thoughts above my thoughts (Isaiah 55), He understands every part of me (Psalm 139)... everything I need before I ask for it (Isaiah 65:24).

The Lord is good, and His mercies endure forever.

The above phrase has been on my heart for the past ten days, reminding me that although I stand in the middle of many storms, the Lord can and will calm them, at just the right time. His ways are not my ways. His thoughts are not my thoughts. I may not understand, but I can trust that He is capable to calm the storm, that all is for His glory, and that everything He does, He does out of love for me.

"Be still, and know that I am God!" ~ Psalm 46:10

Translation: "Get out of My way, Ame! Let Me fix this as only I know how! Trust Me, and rest in Me. I am your God. I alone am God. And I am FOR you, not against you. I am FOR you, and not against you. Be still, and know that I am God!"

Jesus got up and said to the wind and the waves "Be still," and my spirit was immediately calm.