Be still. I’m learning what that means more and more each day. Hopefully I can help others understand as well. God has really been pursuing me lately in new ways. He’s been calling me deeper, to a place where I can truly rest and understand more about his character. This place of peace and surrender is beautiful and I’ve never experienced anything like it in all my life. God will do so much if you’ll be still and let him. So what does it take to Be still? Read this next paragraph and I’ll explain how and why I’ve begun to figure it out.
It all started with anxiety. If you’ve ever hung around me very much you’ve probably noticed that I’m not an anxious person at all. But this last month in Nicaragua has been difficult for me. I was dealing with all kinds of anxiety and uncertainties of the future. I was worried about returning home and finding a job, I was worried about where I’m going to stay when I get back, and I was worried about not being surrounded by an amazing Christian community 24/7 like I am here on the Race. All these lies were creeping into my head and telling me that I should have everything planned and ready to go soon as I get back. But God wouldn’t let me dwell on that nonsense for long.
It just so happened that while staying at an orphanage in Ometepe, Nicaragua I opened up to one of my friends and fellow squad mates Ryan about the anxiety I was dealing with. He talked with me for a while and then gifted me with a key that says Be Still. This key is from a staff member of Aim who owns a company that makes key necklaces that are engraved with prophetic words. The company is called Keys For the Journey. The racers who buy the keys support missionaries all around the world and are given a literal key necklace that is engraved with a prophetic word that is specific to them. It’s specific to them because the Keys For the Journey staff pray over each key before they mail it to the buyers. Much goes into the process and it’s been amazing to see people grow in the areas that their keys target. Once an individual feels like they’ve been gifted with enough revelation about their key, they give it to another person whom they feel is in need of the same revelation they once were. Ryan handed me his key and explained what it meant to him so now it’s up to me to ask God what it means to “Be Still,” and he’s been teaching me so much lately about this topic. So now I’m gonna tell you what I’ve learned.
God is so deeply in love with all of his children, and he so desperately desires to speak with us every single day. Sometimes he speaks to us when we’re not even trying to hear, but in the same respect he loves for us to make a conscious effort to here his voice, feel his heart, or just dwell in his perfect peace. This is where being still comes in handy. You can do it anywhere. You just have to let go of your knowledge and understanding of the natural/spiritual realm and focus on God. Stop thinking and let God give you rest. It’s really that simple. I’ve found myself getting really overwhelmed with thoughts and worries, but as soon as I let go and acknowledge that I’m not in control of everything it becomes easier to let God pull me into a place of rest. Just Be Still and know that God’s thoughts are always better than ours.
