Alone

Be Still

He says, “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

“I see you. I hear you. I feel your pain. I know you think I don’t. I know it appears I am untouched by your hurt.” These words I want to say but only think them.

I really have no words to calm your angst. I have no words to calm my own. Only the Heavenly Father does.

I have started to reach out a thousand times. He says to me, “Be still, be quiet.” He sees you. He hears you. He feels your pain, gathers your tears. He is right there. You are in the palm of His hand. He is right there, waiting on you and ME to call on Him.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:7-14

Be Quiet

For me to say anything at all is pointless. Here is why:

*To say “ok,” sounds like I do not give a flying flip about your situation. Nothing could be further from the truth.

*To tell you, “I am heartbroken,” makes it appear it is all about me and it is most certainly not.

*To say, “I am sorry,” sounds like I am assuming responsibility. I am voicing sorrow, because when you hurt, I hurt too.

*To tell you, “I am praying,” feels like putting a bandaid on a gaping, throbbing wound. Yet, I know this is my best strategy for defending you, helping you, and seeking answers on your behalf.

*To say, “I love you,” sounds trite and I am well aware my love cannot fix this for you. God knows I have tried. I have banged on Heaven’s door ALL day, slept not at all, and the “Teacher is silent during this test.”

*To respond, “Do whatever is best for you,” is to parrot the world and benefits no one in this terrible, tangled web woven by an enemy we cannot see.

*To attempt to “help you see the other person’s point of view,” is seen as manipulation, defending, and blaming everyone else. This makes me part of the problem.

Still and quiet

So, I sit, pen in hand, eyes brim and spill, a lump constricts my throat, and I’m unable to breathe (yes, I have anxiety too) knowing I do not have the answers for this test–yours or my own. We both know our battles are really not with people (flesh and blood), but, it is with this unseen power in the world using people, especially people we love and who love us, to create chaos in our lives, and do damage to the family, the body of Christ, the church. (Ephesians 6:12) While we weep, the enemy laughs.

All I can do is be still, be quiet and look to our Heavenly Father who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 146:6) So, He needs me NOT at all, to do what only He can do for you.

See the Salvation of the Lord

“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes! (I Samuel 12:16)

God says over and over in His Word: Be still, be quiet, and see the salvation of the LORD! (Psalm 37:7, 62:5-6; Exodus 14:13-14; Romans 12:12; I Peter 5:7)

Being still and being quiet is the hardest thing I have ever done. It makes no sense at all! God’s way never makes sense. Feelings are hurt. Relationships are severed. Angry words have flown: searing hearts, planting seeds of bitterness, and these cannot be retrieved. It will take a God miracle to bring healing. And this is the point. It is all about Him and His plan and His timing. His Glory!

Never mistake for one minute my being still and quiet is indifference. It has broken me. It has revealed idols I did not know I had. It has left me weak, tired, uncertain of my future, and cost me more than you can imagine. I have learned something else………….you are in the same boat as me. You too are waiting, praying, attempting to be still and quiet. You too are broken, weak, weary, and battling idols. Words spewed are evidences of a heart at war. (Matthew 15:18)

Trust in stillness

Trust in Him when the way is unclear, the trials are great, and the answers are elusive. Our God Will Come! Until then, follow Christ’s example of being still and quiet: Forgive one more time until you reach 70 x 7. (Matthew 18:21, 22) Love extravagantly. Give thanks for what He is doing. (I Thessalonians 5:18) I will do the same.

Our God Will Come by One Sonic Society

Treading with all in the midst of struggle, sorrow, shame……………….

You are NOT Alone

If you are alone due to circumstances you do not fully understand, I am praying for you. Prepare a feast of peanut butter and jelly, and Kool-Aid and invite Jesus to your table. Talk to Him and listen to Him. Bask in His love for you and walk with Him through the afternoon. In case you missed it, June Cleaver of Leave It To Beaver fame passed away taking her social media “perfect” family lies with her. (No one cleans toilets in high heels!) No family is a Norman Rockwell picture! I sure hope you now know you are never alone in the “lion’s den.” He is with you and I am praying for you. Me too, I understand how you feel.

 

Prayer:

LORD, despite how I feel, thank You for Your reminders to the contrary! Thank You for being with all those YOU love and giving them what You alone can give. Thank You for Your faithfulness to each one of us, providing exactly what we need to draw us to Yourself and teach us to depend on You alone. Forgive me when I act not on what I KNOW to be true but react to how I feel. Teach me to be like Christ and look to You and be still and be quiet until instructed to move and speak. (John 5:19, 20, 8:28) Thank You Father for each and every difficult lesson allowed to mold me into the image of Christ. Amen. (Scriptures from NIV)

 

Further reading:

An Emotion Filled God

https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/10/01/an-emotion-filled-god/