BE STILL AND KNOW

Psalm 46: 10, 11 (NIV) - "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Mark 4: 35 - 41 (NIV) - "That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"


In the Mark 4 the disciples of Jesus found themselves caught in a horrendous storm as they sailed across a familiar sea. So intense was this storm that these well-experienced sailors were full of anxiety and they feared for their lives. They hurried to do all they could to save themselves, but at last they awakened their Master and cried for help. Then Jesus spoke three simple words, "Peace, be still," and the wind and the sea were at rest. As the disciples stood in that miraculous stillness, they knew that Jesus was no ordinary man. Indeed, they saw that He was God and their worries faded away.

Psalm 46 speaks of troubling times-roaring seas, crumbling mountains and raging kingdoms. Yet at the conclusion of the Psalm we hear God speak, "Be still and know that I am God." He tells us that in the worst of times we must stop hurrying and stop worrying. Just be still! And in that stillness see Him as the God He truly is.