“Cease Striving” - Psalm 46 (Day 4)

So far in this week's journey through Psalm 46, we've reflected on God as our refuge and fortress, an unending source of strength and peace that provides us with an ever-present help in times of trouble. Today, we turn our attention to Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God." At first glance, this beloved verse seems tailor-made for a summer centered on rest, especially when it falls on a Thursday - near the end of a busy and demanding week. But, what if our interpretation and understanding of this passage can be a worthwhile spiritual practice while at the same time taking it entirely out of context? Perhaps our answer is found in what drives and motivates us to run ourselves ragged, pushing ourselves to the limit. So, before we dig deeper for answers, I want to provide space for you to pause, pray, and consider the places where you find yourself striving. 

Our hearts search for reassurance. Our souls yearn for comfort. Our minds work to clear the clutter and cut down on the confusion. With all those factors playing a part, it's no wonder why tidbits, snippets, and little morsels of truth in a single verse of Scripture grab our attention. We gravitate toward the comfort and inspiration they bring while often ignoring the context that surrounds them. Take, for instance, Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Who wouldn't love to push pause from our busy and hectic schedules and carve out time for a bit of peace, calm, and quiet reflection? A reminder to slow down and reflect is a good and gracious command. So it makes sense why we inscribe it on journals, put it on posters, and include it on greeting cards. But, right out of the gate, we're mishandling Scripture and missing the bigger picture. Most of the time, we only quote the first section of the verse and ignore the second: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

When we read both parts of this verse together, we recognize there is more going on here than just God urging us to shut off the phone, grab a cup of coffee, and settle in for a quiet time. By slowing down, we are training our eyes to see God's power, greatness, and influence in our lives and the world around us. It’s acknowledging God’s ability to deliver us from things that are beyond our abilities and control. With that said, to truly handle this Scripture well, we still need to pull back further, and add the verses that preceded it, even as difficult as they might be:

Psalm 46:8-9 says this:

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.

Now, that's hardly a Hallmark-worthy verse, but reading it helps us understand the bigger picture taking place and its implications. Remember what's transpiring while the author penned Psalm 46 - invaders attack God's people, a battle ensues, and eventually, David's army stands victorious over its enemies. God isn't just inviting His people to look over the battlefield and see His faithfulness and protection; God is flexing His muscles and bragging to His enemies. God wants them to recognize that waging war against Him is a losing battle, to stop their advances and drop their weapons. It reminds both that the nations will exalt Him and His greatness. 

Take a moment and consider…What is God wanting us to understand with the command to “be still, and know that I am God?”

With all that in mind, the command to BE STILL hits differently, especially when we look at other times it appears in Scripture. For example, in Mark 4, Jesus rebuked the raging storm with those precise words, and instantly the waves became peaceful. Then, there were Israelites escaping captivity in Egypt in Exodus 14. Pinned between the oncoming Egyptians in one direction and the Red Sea in the other, they understandably freaked out. Moses urges them not to be afraid but instead stand firm and watch the Lord fight for them and the deliverance the Lord He will bring them. How do they do such a thing? They need only to BE STILL (v. 13-14). Our trying circumstances might be imposing and perhaps more significant than what we can handle, but they don't compare to the greatness of God. Trying to fix things beyond our control is a recipe for disaster and only leads us toward inevitable frustration. The more we fight for control, rely on our limited strength, and continue engaging in a battle bigger than us, the more we find ourselves in opposition to God and rob Him of the opportunity of being our Savior and Deliverer. 

Take a moment and consider…How has fighting for control, relying on your strength, and pushing your ways to deal with trying circumstances left you exhausted and frustrated?

Read today’s passage slowly one more time.

Psalm 46:8-11 says this:

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.

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.”

11The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Other translations replace "be still" in Psalm 46:10 with "cease striving." Given the surrounding context, this seems fitting. It's not a call to stop, catch our breath, and then go back to our day; it's a command to drop what we're doing and quit fighting a battle bigger than ourselves. God is rebuking our restlessness and propensity to fix things on our own. Striving to win on our terms and by our efforts only causes us to lose in the end. Being still is taking a break from trying to run the whole universe. Rather than run rampant, we remain still and grab hold of His promises. To be still is to trust that because God holds the entire world in His hands, we are free to loosen the grip we have on our own. 

So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you through Psalm 46. First, take a moment to process this question…Where do you need to “cease striving” and ask forgiveness for trying to manage circumstances beyond your control and ability? 

Another question to consider is this…What would it look like for you to “be still” and know that God is God in these situations? 

PRAYER

Father God,

Forgive us for trying to control every aspect of our lives and, more importantly, failing to trust You.

Today, may we cease striving and instead be still - acknowledging Your greatness, faithfulness, and protection over us.

Replace our worries and fears with an unshakable dependence and declaration that You are God and we are not. Amen.