For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven. – Psalm 107:25-30

photo credit: Eric B. Walker via photopin cc

This was the verse that started it all for me.  Before my disability and before my quest for medical answers, I was an active wife and mother, busy as I could be.  I became fascinated with the idea of “stillness” before God and began to study what that meant, what God was calling me to do when he said, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).  I could hear the Spirit whispering to me that this was the crux of the matter, and I devoted myself to finding a deeper understanding of this stillness.  Little did I know what a journey would begin with that study. 

I still do not have a firm grasp on the concept, since my inner being is constantly reaching for that “busy-ness” from before, but I do get a great deal of comfort from the above passage.  The passage refers to sailors in a storm on the sea.  However, the fact that so often we are like those waves is not lost on me…. So often I feel tossed about BY the waves of life, but if I take the time to breathe and reconnect with God, I find that I AM a wave, tossing to and fro and diving down, crashing deep and cresting high, with no direction or aim.  Because I am that wave, my tossing can upset all around me until life itself becomes a storm and is quite scary.  This verse tells me that even the mindless waves who have no control over their tossing, can rely on God to give them direction and calm them.  Why wouldn’t I, His child, cry out to Him?  And not only does he direct them, HE is the one who imparts the stillness…. It’s not some mysterious place that I can find if I meditate enough or gain enough faith… It’s given by God himself, and is only for me to RECEIVE with gratitude.  Look at the last verse.  “Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.”  I believe that must be true for the waves as well as the sailors!  Let’s cry out to God together today for stillness, then receive it with gladness.  Only then can he guide us!

Holy God, You are the giver of all good and perfect gifts.  We plead with you today to grant us stillness.  Help us to be willing vessels for this blessing.  Help us to see that the need for busy-ness comes from the world.  Let our focus be completely on you today, Lord, and let us be Still.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen….

May God Bless You,

Shelly