Stuff to Still

“Be STILL and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).

STUFF

I’m sitting in Emme’s car. It’s been a morning extra full: doctor visit, Quinn’s presentation that I had to miss, Jeff’s surgery way far away in NC. Now she stops at Walmart.

“I’ll wait here” I sigh.

“Are you going to look through my STUFF?” 

“What?”She surprises me with her question. Sorting through the items in my daughter’s back seat is the last thing on my mind.

“Be STILL and know…” I want to write. My mind is full of STUFF. The busy, loud music on the stereo, random conversations, worries about Jeff, too much STUFF crowds my head, my heart, my soul.

Be STILL and know…that I am Lord…

Oh, right! I find the peace which surpasses understanding gently washing out the busyness; helping me focus on this moment right here, right now.

He is on the throne. All this STUFF distracts me from the truth but it doesn’t really change a thing. Be anxious for nothing. Your Shepherd knows your needs. No overcrowded schedule, no unmet needs of loved ones can separate you from His love. 

Change one letter and STUFF becomes STIFF… the tension grows. It freezes me up. 

Change two more letters and STIFF becomes STILL… Now I can breathe. None of the STUFF can change the truth. 

God is my refuge and strength. 

He always has been.

He is STILL. 

About the author

Anna Gibson is a teacher and writer who is passionate about helping others wrestle hope and meaning out of their struggles. She shares her blog posts on faith, family and philosophy at hope wrestles.com and she will be publishing her first book, Blackbelt Mama in the near future.

Comments

  1. I caught God looking through my stuff
    on Wednesday of last week,
    and I told Him I’d had enough
    of Him being such a little sneak
    and pawing through the hidden places
    of my shadowed soul.
    He’s clever but He does leave traces
    that He hopes might make me whole,
    but hang it all the I WANT to be
    left in my sin to wallow,
    not have to face the misery
    of all my pride to swallow
    before Him on my bended knees,
    just one more of the least of these.

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