Why is it so hard for us to stop? I mean think about it. On the outside at least it seems like we are all always doing something, even when we rest (outside of sleep), that rest often comes with an agenda or activities that fill our mind and body. We strive at work, we try to keep up at home, school or in our community. Even at church we often go with a purpose in mind. We try to look and act the right way, go to the right Bible studies or classes, make sure our kids are behaving as they should, etc.. On those occasions when we have nothing “to do”, we mindlessly scroll or binge watch TV. We don’t know how to stop and just be very well. At least I don’t.

Not knowing how to be still leads me to this next question. Do you know anyone who does a good job of simply sitting and being with Jesus? Someone like Mary in Luke 10:39 who sat at His feet and just listened. No agenda, no striving, no box checking, no trying to get through a Bible reading plan or devotion, but just sitting at the feet of our Master and allowing Him to lead, to fill, to speak, to be God. Bible reading plans and studies, daily devotionals are all good things. But I can’t help but wonder if sometimes we don’t need to just stop and let God move as we listen. 

Psalms 46:10 is an often quoted verse “Be still and know that I am God.” Some versions read “stop fighting”. If you were to read the verses prior to 10, you’d discover that verses 1-9 discuss the goodness of God and how He moves! Here is what I am learning; when I stop and simply listen -God reminds me of how often He moves. Psalms 18 is a prayer of gratitude for how God rescued David from the hands of Saul. I challenge you to read it slowly and make note of all the ways God moved and/or came down to our level. He didn’t just come to David’s rescue, He acted with great might “He thundered from heaven, making His voice heard”, “He reached down from on high and took hold of me.”! Think about it! Who wouldn’t want God to reach down from heaven to help them! The thing is though, scripture is full of examples of Him doing just that! I wonder how often we miss God reaching down because we fail to stop or at least slow down?

The New Testament has plenty of examples of God reaching down as well. Pick any gospel account and you’ll read how Jesus came down as a baby to save us. Luke 15 tells us of the shepherd who leaves the 99 to go after the lost one and how the father of the prodigal son ran to him while he was a long way off. Those are all ways in which God comes down to our level. Jesus moving on our behalf, Jesus reaching down to take hold of us! Quite frankly, the whole thing just blows my mind! What’s even more mind boggling is why! Psalms 18:19 says “He brought me out to a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”. God delights in us! Isn’t that crazy!!

When we consciously choose to stop, asking the Holy Spirit to help us, admitting our need, acknowledging that we are far too weak to stop on our own – THAT  is when we meet Jesus more closely. We can choose to stop because He already knows what we need. We don’t have to fill the quiet space with words! Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 6:25-34 that we don’t need to worry about anything because “your heavenly Father knows what you need”! He is giving us permission, asking us even to simply stop and be with Him.

Our God is loyal. He is faithful. He KNOWS us and still loves us, delights in us and reaches down to help us. It’s okay to let go. It’s okay to give up control and stop trying to manipulate the outcome of so many things. It’s okay to take some time and just sit at your Master’s feet and delight in Him as He delights in you! 

I’m convinced the more we strive, we only frustrate ourselves and discount God’s ability. What if we flipped the script and allowed God to be God. Allow His sufficient and plentiful grace to cover us. Accepting His protection and provision. It’s okay, go ahead and allow yourself to hide in the shelter of His wings and let Him be your refuge. Why not just put down everything you are trying to carry, all those plates you are desperately trying to keep spinning – just go ahead and let them fall. Then let Jesus pick you up and do the carrying, let Him put those broken pieces back together exactly how He wants! Let’s embrace our weakness and let God be the strong One! 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “for when I am weak – then I am strong!”.

Why not take some time today, maybe even 15 minutes and simply sit with your Savior Jesus and delight in each other?