The world gives itself up
to incessant activity
merely because
it knows of nothing better.
The inspired man
works among
its whirring wheels also,
but he knows
whither the wheels
are going.
For he has found
the Center
where all is
stillness… (Paul Brunton)

When our young kids were feeling sick, they would crawl despondently up into our laps. Pulling the blanket over us both, they would have time to be quiet, to cuddle, to relax. Sometimes, they would even fall asleep with their heads on our chest. They were in our arms. They could, for once, literally be still.

I think there is a deeper meaning to ‘be still’: to stop worrying, to stop trying to control things. To wait. To trust. To find contentment.

On this day we look together through Psalm 46, with its call to stop, rest, and let God solve our problems. Please pray with me the following:

A prayer built on Psalm 46:6-11

6 “Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.”
Lord God, this day we acknowledge that you alone are God, and that we are not. We don’t understand everything. We can’t control everything. We can barely control ourselves. Our world is in a mess, broken and afraid. We surrender all of it to you. We place our trust in you. We hold tightly to your hand. Watch over our fragmented earth, Lord.

7 “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
And yet, in our weakness, you are with us. The Lord “Almighty” –without limits or restrictions—has chosen to be our fortress, our safe place. For generations, you have chosen to protect your people. Thank you.

8 “Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.”
Jesus, we trust you now with our world. With our conflicts and our struggles. We trust you even with the frailties of our human bodies. Hold us tightly, Lord, and put an end to this virus. Hold us tightly, Lord, and watch over our families and friends. Push away the darkness, shatter the spear, remove the battle.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Father-Son-Spirit, we cannot fully comprehend your nature or your plans. Because we can’t gather it all in, we tend to fear and worry. This leads to trying to influence and manipulate all that we touch. Forgive us. We stop now. We breathe now. We trust now. We worship you now. Help us be more still. Help us be more at peace. Help us to know that you are in charge. You are God. You are exalted in all the earth.

11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Lord God, again this day we acknowledge that you alone are God, and that we are not. We don’t understand everything. We can’t control everything. We can barely control ourselves. We surrender all of our world to you. We place our trust in you. We hold tightly to your hand. Amen.