July 2024

“Be still [stop fighting] and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

-Psalm 46:10

Howard Thurman, a Christian believer and writer, taught that we need God’s sense of time, God’s sense of order, and God’s sense of the future to combat the ever-threatening anxiety, confusion, and despair that often plagues us. He reminds us that while we are often in a hurry, growth is generally slow, requiring patience. We allow the tyranny of the urgent to scramble our priorities so that significant things remain in insignificant places (prayer ends up on the back-burner). And we can get frozen by the past or the present, failing to keep the high hope of God’s future promises drawing us forward.

In Psalm 46, we receive holy wisdom from God’s inspired Word to combat the overwhelming force of anxiety, confusion, and despair. In response to our anxiety, we are reminded to BE STILL. If we are in perpetual motion, we will burn out. God gave the Sabbath to teach us how to let go of the wheel every now and then to rest, relax, and learn the discipline of trust.

In response to our confusion, God says: KNOW THAT I AM GOD. God has revealed his beautiful qualities through creation and through the Bible and powerfully through Jesus Christ. Without studying God’s Word, we will get caught up in lies and fads and the noise/confusion of this world.

And in response to our despair, we are reminded that God is exalted; sovereign and holy and completely wonderful. As the Scriptures say, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Who could possibly prevent God from keeping his promises and doing all the good things that God intends to do? Call upon the Holy Spirit to remind you of Jesus, and to provide you with all those spiritual gifts which keep the church moving forward with persistent hope even in the face of seemingly overwhelming challenges.

Perhaps it would be good to use this Scripture as a daily mantra. Take time every day and repeat it to yourself: over and over if need be. “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” And when that one really sinks in, find another Scripture to memorize. As the Word of God and the Spirit of God saturate our lives, we shall in time find our actions motivated more and more by leisure, order, and hope.

Have a wonderful summer, dear friends! God bless you.

In Christ’s grip,

Pastor Matthew