Be Still

Psalm 46

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, ‘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.”

Isaiah 30:15  "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

   They say history repeats itself, but we can say that's somewhat true in our own lives.  As we are now under self-quarantine in our homes, we feel the cabin fever, the loneliness separated from friends, the boredom of kids, and the lack of privacy or escape to ourselves.  We want to blame those who are reckless with their public behavior and exposing those that have to be out for work, supplies or checking on loved ones.  Can you ever recall a time in your life like this before, at least with some similarity?  For myself, yes I can.

   Every year since I can remember, I have received a flu shot in October.  While I have never had the flu, the shot isn't my only means of self protection.  Just this year in January and February, I've had to miss church and other activities due to people not staying home while sick.  Sure, they may be healthy enough to get over it easily but some of us are not.  This kind of selfishness is not uncommon, but is more magnified with the coronavirus pandemic.  Welcome to my world and think about your impact on others.

So, you feel stuck, trapped and unhappy with your social distancing situation?  I suspect that life will bring you here again, maybe not the same way, but through a personal illness or injury.

'Christians often interpret the command to “be still” as “to be quiet in God’s presence.” While quietness is certainly helpful, the phrase means to stop frantic activity, to let down, and to be still. For God’s people being “still” would involve looking to the Lord for their help (cf. Exodus 14:13); for God’s enemies, being “still” would mean ceasing to fight a battle they cannot win." {gotquestions.org]

During the summer between my 9th and 10th grades, I had 2 rods put along my spine to help with scoliosis.  The curving of my back, scoliosis, was beginning to affect my lung capacity.  Therefore, I needed the support of the rods to straighten me up.  I went to the Norton Leatherman Spine Center in Louisville, KY where they had performed over 40 of these surgeries and were doing 3-4 a week.  Arkansas Children's was on their 3rd at the time.  So after two weeks in the hospital, I came home on a long ride in the bed of a friend's van.  I spent my whole summer laying on my back recovering with occasional physical therapy by doing laps around the kitchen/dining room areas.  I was blessed with two great caregivers, Tania Lewis and Missy Meredith, because my parents had to work.  My summer included watching tv, learning how to knit, and waiting on the pool to be built.  No fun, painful but it was for my good.

I write and share this blog to say 'this coronavirus isn't my first rodeo of staying in and cooped up'.  As believers, we will get through this without fear or we will be called home.  I know that I'm okay, either way.  This is what I told my dad right before going in for back surgery at 14.  Can you say that to your loved ones, today?

 Gotquestions.org says it best by saying "When we are still and surrendered to God, we find peace even when the earth gives way, the mountains fall, or the nations go into an uproar and kingdoms fall . When life gets overwhelming and busyness takes precedence, remember Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Run to Him, lay down your weapons and fall into His arms. Acknowledge that He is God and that He is exalted in the earth. Be still and know that He is God."

                                             My dad seeing me in ICU for the first time