Day 6. Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.

Here’s the other verse that I’ve considered getting tattooed somewhere on myself. How powerful this verse has been when I’ve struggled inconsolably with anxiety and panic. A few months ago, my church used this scripture as the theme for one Sunday, and there was this lovely little video to go along with the message that took away a word or two at a time—something like this:

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

God is God. He is God. No matter what we face, or who we think we are, that remains as truth. He is our refuge and strength, our ever present help in trouble. So we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. [...] He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. That is who made us, and who wants us on his side. We actually do not need to be anxious about anything (I should really practice what I preach) because He is God. Once we allow that knowledge to permeate both our heads and our hearts, we just have to be still. 

Funny thing I just remembered: in grade 12, I went through a period where I was extremely depressed, and I had this one friend who was trying really hard to brighten my outlook on life, and we usually had really long, elaborate conversations, but one day when I just couldn't get out of bed, she sent me this text: "just be.". I threw my phone at the wall. She had no idea how hard this was for me. How could I possibly just be when just being hurt so much and I didn't want to be anymore. At the time I was a secular humanist, and had Christian people in my life pointing me to the bible as if it was some kind of pill that would magically fix all of my problems. I was obviously more qualified to handle the problems of my own life, so I did, and it worked for another couple of years, before my life fell apart. I feel like sometimes maybe all we can do is be. Be, and acknowledge that although we may be in a crappy situation, God is still God, and he is still sovereign, and he is still jealous, and he is still good, and he is still for us. We just need to be.