Be Still and Know

Surrender your anxiety; relax.
Be still and realize that I am God.
I am God above all the nations,
and I am exalted throughout the whole earth.

Psalm  46:10 (NKJV)

There is something immediately calming… immediately soothing about these words: Be still and know that I am God! It is a reminder of who He is—GOD! Surely we know this right! Surely we know who He is! It seems sometimes we all need a little reminder.

The meaning and context of this verse needs to be unpacked for us so that we can grasp the relevance of its message for our lives today:

Be STILL
relax, cease, let alone, withdraw, be quiet, slacken your hands (stop fighting, striving, struggling)

Even though this verse serves as a reminder for our own lives—for us to be still and quieten down our souls before the presence of God; to pray and meditate on His goodness and on His Word—there is something more that this verse is actually saying.

The context of: “Be still and know that I am God”, is of war—of the nations fighting against God’s people (verses 8 and 9). Then God steps in and speaks in verse 10, effectively saying: “Enough! Stop it! I am God and I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in all the earth.” This verse is about God pulling rank on His enemies—and on the enemies of His people!

Then in the very next verse (as if with a shout of victory) God’s people respond saying:

The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah!

Psalm 46:11 (NKJV)

When Jesus rose from the dead, He defeated the devil—He triumphed over him and made a public spectacle of him (Colossians 2:15). It is now our voice—the voice of every believer in Christ Jesus—who speaks into every work of darkness: strife, sickness, disease, poverty, oppression… and pulls rank saying: “Enough! Stop it! Peace! Be still!”.

We are the voice of God in the earth and just as God Himself spoke in Psalm 46:10, we have been given authority in the earth—and we exercise that authority by speaking God’s Word.

Yet I will still respond to those beautiful words: “Be still and know that I am God” also as a constant reminder to step back and cease from futility—from fighting, striving, pushing and pulling—and relax, quieten my soul and cease from my own weary and anxious efforts—AND KNOW MY GOD in the moment!

Surrender your anxiety!
Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.
I am the God above all the nations,
and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.

Psalm 46:10 (TPT)

I am humbled and quieted in your presence.
Like a contented child who rests on its mother’s lap, I’m your resting child and my soul is content in you.

Psalm 131:2 (TPT)

Remember, you are greatly blessed, highly favoured and deeply loved!

Tracey Pekkanen