One of the more well-known verses in Christianity is 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."
It's likely that even if you aren't very familiar with the Bible, you've heard the first part of this verse, "Be still, and know that I am God." These words show up on pillows, wall decals and Instagram bios — I even have it as the background on my laptop. However, I think many of us, including myself, are guilty of saying these words without really internalizing them and thinking about what God is telling us. If we really take the time to look at this verse, we can find out so much about the Lord's amazing power and love for us.
When He tells us to "be still," God is reminding us to take a deep breath and pause for a minute. Although it is incredibly hard to force yourself to do this when you feel like you're on stormy seas, clinging to the edge of a boat for dear life, it is so rewarding. When you pause for God and acknowledge that He is indeed our Lord, God and Savior, He will take away some of your worries and fill you with peace and security. He may not always solve your problems for you right away, but He will help you to work through them and to come out stronger on the other side.
The second part of this verse, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" isn't something that you hear quite as often, but it is equally as incredible. The word exalted means to be placed at a high or powerful level. God isn't telling us this to prove that He is better or more noble than us, but rather to remind us of His extraordinary power. One of the best things about this power is that He is willing to share it with us. He wants to work in our lives to do amazing things and to give us the power to do amazing things. This is so encouraging at times when we feel like life is too much for us to handle on our own because it reminds us that we aren't actually on our own.
Next time you're feeling discouraged or worried about anything, or like you're on stormy seas, remember this verse and be comforted by what it really means to "Be still and know." Start practicing relinquishing your control over your life and hand it over to the one who has power over all the nations and the earth.
