Just before I left the United States, I received a key. It’s on a necklace, and I’ve been wearing it pretty much ever since. Before leaving the country, everyone on my squad received an email that explained a ministry called “Keys for the Journey”. It was a ministry that exists to empower people to journey with the Lord in a specific area of their lives. Through the wearing of a word, you carry a tangible reminder to be in prayer over that area of your life. How it works is simple. You buy a key, and the ministry prays over your name. Without a context of knowing who you are, they ask God for a word(s) to be stamped on your key. Prophetic.
At launch, I excitedly opened a little package that contained my key. And when I looked at it, it read, “be still”. I remember sitting looking at it, thinking ohhhh DANG. Whoever this key maker is, God spoke to them. And it hit me with a wincing pang of “Lord, here we go.”
Oh, in the last months, has God been teaching me so much about what it means to be still.
In Psalm 46, David speaks about God’s character and stillness. The first nine verse are David’s words. They speak about God’s power and character despite and within our circumstances. They speak God’s character and the promises of who He is. And then, in verse ten, these words come from God—
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“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10
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“Be still and know that I am God”—is not an invitation to more intellectual knowledge, but indeed an invitation to deeper surrender. To submission. To trust. To dependence in listening to the Spirit. It’s a deeper knowing of God’s character. His character that doesn’t change or fail. Regardless of our circumstances, His character remains the same. And in that, He invites us to be changed by allowing Him to posture us to His love. WHAT a miracle.
But that miracle takes a willingness. We must allow ourselves to be placed in the hands of our Father. We must surrender our will to be remolded. We must wait on Him in dependence while He works.
God is teaching me that being still is not just the physical. Being still is not just in thought. Being still is not just in emotion. Being still is not even just the ceasing of striving. Being still is not even just surrendering the need for answers, knowledge. Being still is about His presence and who He is.
God continues to invite me to trust in His goodness. More than I trust myself or my efforts. More than I trust logic or crave answers to my questions. And in that stillness becomes a waiting, an awe and a praise. It becomes declaring His truth despite all else because, man, my God is steadfast and faithful.
The reason being still is so necessary for heart change is because God does the heart change, not us. When we release control, a space is created for His work to take place. When we allow ourselves to be drawn into His love, we can really feel just how big and gentle His arms are.
“Be still” has become this continual invitation to lay down my effort, to open my hands, to more deeply recognize the Lord as my God of victory and to listen to what He is speaking. And this will continue forever. But, here’s the best part: being still isn’t about me. It is about the confidence and faith, the power, protection and love that God outpours in His union and faithfulness to me. And that truth always comes back—as you know the glory and greatness of God, you can and will desire to stop wrestling and simply surrender to His great love.
The journey continues, and as He contines to guide. He is worthy of all our trust and praise!
