Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Often, we misunderstand the phrase “be still” as meaning to do nothing. We interpret it as inactivity, but that is not the biblical meaning. To be still means to stop striving in your own strength. It doesn’t mean inaction. God works in partnership with people. The sons of Korah, in the anchor verse, understood that God is ever-present in times of trouble, and so they chose to be still. That is, they partnered with God, trusting Him to accomplish His purpose and bring about good success.
Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
To “be still” means allowing God to work through us, according to His will. It’s a partnership, but without striving alone. To illustrate this, let’s look at Jesus Christ. How did He face the greatest challenge of His life, and what can we learn from His response?
(Matthew 26:17-25, 30, 36)
- Remain calm – Jesus knew that the time of trouble was near (Matthew 26:20-25). He discerned the enemy’s plan, yet He responded by sitting and eating with His disciples. He was calm and still within. This stillness gave Him the ability to discern the real issue and its source. When trouble arises, it often comes from something close to you. If you are not calm, you may even seek out your trouble and confront it head-on without understanding.
- Worship the Lord – In stillness, Jesus sang hymns with His disciples (Matthew 26:30). Worship keeps our hearts sensitive to God. When we delight in Him, His desires become our desires (Psalm 37:4). Worship can help us remain still and focused on God’s will.
- Use discernment in who you confide in – When Jesus prayed, He took only a smaller group of disciples with Him (Matthew 26:36-37). In times of trouble, our instinct may be to share with everyone, but Jesus did the opposite. When you need God’s help, be mindful of who is around you. People with negative energy or attitudes should not be in your inner circle during crucial moments. Whether it’s good news or bad, not everyone needs to hear it. You don’t hold hands with just anyone.
- Be alone with the Lord in prayer – Jesus went further alone to pray (Matthew 26:39). This is essential. In times of extraordinary need, only God can truly help. It’s vital to learn to depend on Him fully. When trouble comes, be sure to pray and commit everything to God. No one can pray for you as effectively as you can for yourself. Jesus, in stillness, understood that this was the time to be alert and prayerful, committing all things into God’s hands. In stillness, Jesus had already prayed and addressed the issues at hand. He made power available in prayer, discerning, uprooting, and planting according to God’s will. He was strengthened and knew the steps needed to ensure success. At this point, He confidently told His disciples:
Matthew 26:45: “Then He came to the disciples and said, ‘Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.'”
As James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.” We must learn to pray with calmness and faith. As spiritual beings, we bring God’s power into play through prayer. In prayer, we address issues, speaking in tongues, and shifting things around spiritually to bring about the desired outcome. We don’t fret or become anxious, but in everything, we commit our concerns to the Lord (Philippians 4:6-7).
Extraordinary help comes when we are still – praying with certainty, calmness, and discernment. We address issues in prayer, and as we do, we receive clarity and peace from God.
