“Busyness is a deep sickness for which stillness is the cure.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 6, 2024
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14, NIV
Stillness is one of the most elusive virtues of our day. Our world values productivity, often at any cost, and we therefore convince ourselves that the busier we are, the more productive we will be and, by extension, the more useful and valuable we become. To be still is to push pause and cease from this endless striving and effort. It is a willingness to say that busy is not always better, and in truth, our busyness is a deep sickness for which stillness is the cure.
To be still is not the denial of the very real threats and challenges that surround us, but is the ability to right-size them in light of the awesome power of God. As Moses instructed the people who faced a raging sea on one side and an advancing army on the other, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14). Now, note one massively important detail in this story that is closely connected to these words of deliverance that Moses utters over the people: God’s people encounter his deliverance when they are in the heart of his will, no matter how scared or afraid they may be.
The deliverance of God is encountered as his people step out in faith. They leave the predictability of Egypt and say ‘yes’ to the great unknown, adventuring with God into the wilderness and beyond. As Paul affirms in Romans, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Thus, before you and I seek a life of stillness, let us ensure that we are in a place where stillness and quiet will open us to the rescuing presence of God, rather than settling us deeper into the sickness and mire of sin. When we are with God in the center of his will, then we can truly be still, knowing he fights our battles. And if we find ourselves a long way off, weighed down by the cares of this world, let us not be too quick to still and steady ourselves in that place, but instead press through our fears and rush to the center of his will, for it is there that joy is always to be found.
Prayer
Father, as we seek after your heart and will for our lives, give us the courage to quiet ourselves in that place, trusting that you fight on our behalf so we can be still through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Consider where you find yourself today. Is it ground upon which you can stand firm and be still in the presence of God, or do you need to first move toward him in faith and then quiet yourself in his presence?
Related Reading
Psalm 37:7; Psalm 46:10; Psalm 62:5
Worship Resource
Ellie Holcomb: Where Can I Go – Psalm 139
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