Reading
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice; the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Psalm 46
Reflection by Courtney Blacksten
We spend much of our lives trying to hold everything together. We have a tendency to want to control outcomes, relationships, schedules, our emotions and the emotions of others, and the future. But most of the time, the harder we try to control the things outside of ourselves, the more anxious and overwhelmed we become inside ourselves.
Today’s scripture paints a picture of chaos, mountains shaking, waters roaring, nations in uproar, yet right in the middle of it all, God says: “Be still.” This command to be still isn’t about not moving around and sitting in one place – it is an invitation to turn off the noise and distractions of the world around you and pay attention to all God is doing.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” The Hebrew meaning of “be still” includes letting go.
We could read the scripture this way:
- Let go and know that I am God.
- Let go of worry and know that I am God.
- Let go of perfection and know that I am God.
- Let go of trying to control everything and know that I am God.
“Letting go” doesn’t mean we pretend that life is easy or ignore hard things, but it does mean slowing down enough to pay attention to God, knowing that God is present with us. It allows us to notice what God is doing around us. It allows us to release the things we cannot control and focus on the one thing we can: ourselves. We can choose to center ourselves and trust God, no matter what is happening around us.
What is one situation, worry, or relationship you are trying to control right now? What would it look like to release it into God’s hands?
God reminds us that while we cannot control everything around us, we can choose where we place our trust. God is our refuge and strength, a present help in trouble.
Pray
Close your time today by repeating the “Serenity Prayer,” a few times.
“God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Amen.
