How To Find Strength In Stillness
God is your strength, and you can find strength in the place of stillness.
The Scripture says, “Be still, and know that I am God!”
Be still sounds simple, but there are all kinds of things trying to steal your attention, distract you from pursuing God’s purpose in your life, and get you to focus on things that don’t matter instead of things that do.
We live in a world of constant noise — kids’ sports, working long hours to make ends meet, family responsibilities, school, running errands, serving at church — and the list will fill your calendar to capacity.
In addition, there are constant voices of news, wars, the threat of more wars, the economy, natural disasters, social challenges, and noises that can be loud and overwhelming (here’s how to be anchored to hope in Jesus and motivate others to love and do good works).
The good news is that you can find stability and strength from the place of stillness.
Stillness means silence, the absence of motion. Unhurried, un-rushed. Solitude. There is only one place where you can find this place of strength, who is an ever-present help.
The Lord is your sanctuary, your quiet place in a noisy world.
If life is busy and overwhelming, and you need your strength renewed, here are three helpful reminders:
1) Withdraw from the noise.
Pause from the busyness of life. Learn to quiet your mind.
Jesus made this his practice even though he was busy. Here’s what he did.
The Scripture says, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and withdrew to pray” (Mark 1:35).
He had the discipline to withdraw from the noise of the crowds, pause from the busyness of his schedule, and find strength in solitude.
If Jesus needed to withdraw from the noise of the crowds, how much more do you and I need to do that?
2) Trust the Lord to direct your steps.
The Lord wants you to know where you’re going in life.
The Scripture says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalm 37:23).
It’s tough to hear God’s direction when it’s noisy.
The times in my life when I’ve heard God most clearly is when I’m awoken in the middle of the night. I’ve come to realize that it’s the time that the Lord has my full attention.
Maybe you feel like you never hear God’s voice. You try to listen, but all you hear is silence.
Silence doesn’t imply God’s absence; it often means staying the course.
3) Stay the course.
God has not abandoned you; don’t abandon the direction he has given.
When I use my Maps app, I put in the destination, giving me a route to follow. Whenever I’m in unfamiliar territory, I wish the voice from the app would bring some assurance by saying, “You got this, Matt. You’re on the right track!”
But instead, I have to follow the route, trusting that I will reach the final destination.
It’s the same for you and me as we follow the instructions of Scripture. The Scripture is God’s instructions that show you the route to follow.
If you get off track, be assured that God’s grace will show you how to get back on track (check out three simple questions to help you find direction in your life).
Finding strength in stillness will help you stay the course.
If you are feeling weary, meditate on this Scripture to restore your soul:
“Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).