Still part 2
In order to be still and know that HE is God... you kind of have to be still. And I'm not necessarily talking about not moving--although that can help, in some instances. I'm talking about being calm. I'm talking about how powerful it is when everybody else is losing their heads but you can keep yours. Trusting in God, in other words. Knowing that you don't have to do it all. And you don't have to do it all yourself. About fifty times a day I work I think to myself, "I can do anything, but I can't do everything." And the things I can't do... I just let them go. I don't get all worked up about things I can't control. Which, for the record, is MOST things. You can't control what goes on around you. All you can really control is how you react to what goes on around you. I think it was Captain Jack Sparrow who said something along the lines of, "Your problem is not the problem. Your problem is your attitude about the problem." Let me say it another way, "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:4). When that hidden man of the heart is on display, that's when the second part of our key verse for this Rant series takes center stage. Because the first part is "Be still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10). But the second part is, "...I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." And, contrary to popular belief, God is not exalted when we try to cram Him down people's throats. At best, when that happens, they will run FROM Him instead of TO Him. At worst they choke on Him. Nothing good comes of it though. When we try too hard we generally make things worse. Helping or hurting, right? Well, running around like chickens with our heads cut off never helps. It surely can hurt though. So stop trying so hard. Even--and I've Ranted on this many times--"What Would Jesus Do?" First you have to try to figure our what Jesus would do. Then you have to try to do that thing. Which, to me, is entirely too much trying. Just be still. Trust in Him to do what HE'S going to do. That's what the "know that I am God" part means to me. You don't have to everything. Did I already say that? Believe it. You don't have to do everything. Saying no is ok. As long as you are following your heart, and doing the things you do because they are in your heart to do them, I believe you will be ok. Its the difference between trying to swim upstream, and letting the river of life flow through you and out of you. Its the difference between trying to get something, and enjoying what you've got by sharing it. By giving it away. That's what love is; giving everything you have and everything you are. But look at 1 Corinthians 7:17 real quick to close this Rant out: "But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches." Don't try to be someone you're not. Stay in your lane. As a famous football coach is fond of saying: Do YOUR job. Don't worry about what other people are doing all the time. That'll wear you slap out. Just walk in YOUR calling. Just be who YOU are. Keep calm and love people. Be still and know that HE is God. Be still and know that God is love!