Stillness. As if it were a mantra of sorts, I begin repeating this word in my mind and can't help but wonder how a word as simple as stillness can hold as much depth as it does. With life's ceaseless distractions and demands, finding stillness of the mind, body, and spirit can often become a rather tedious, if not nearly impossible task. However, over the course of time, I have come to find that the magnitude of our daily stressors, tasks, and obstacles can only increase as much as we allow them to. In some odd way, I like to think that the definition of "being still" is more than what it appears to be on the surface. Perhaps, stillness is found not in our constant quest for said stillness, but rather in our ability to let go.
One of my all time favorite bible verses is Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." You might be thinking, "How can I be still when chaos abounds in my life?" Quite frankly, you can't; at least, not on your own, anyway. One of the biggest mistakes that human beings commit on a frequent basis is indulging in their desire to have control over as many aspects of their lives as possible. From an early age, children are exposed to numerous cultural and societal norms, many of which define success as thriving on busyness and taking on one task after the next. Now, let's examine ourselves for a minute. If you're anything like me, you'll relate in the awareness that perfectionist tendencies and high expectations for yourself often get in the way of your pursuit towards experiencing the total stillness that you crave. Interestingly, throughout this tedious journey I began realizing that the more that I sought after this ever so coveted stillness, the greater my anxious thoughts became. Why? The answer is simple: I refused to make the conscious effort of looking beyond myself as a means of surrendering.
Realistically speaking, to think that we have life figured out to its entirety is a highly erred notion at best. Essentially, the root of this idealistic thinking lies not in our desire for stillness itself, but rather in our refusal to let God work in our lives. Any given person can read verses such as Psalm 46:10 a thousand times over, but attempting to apply the messages behind them into his or her life is an entirely different story. Granted, remaining calm and stress-free may not always be the easiest thing to do, but through Christ we can overcome anything and everything. To elaborate, allow me to reiterate Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Where we fall short, his power is magnified...
Ultimately, stillness means being aware of the giants in front of us but refusing to let them deter us from moving forward. Moreover, stillness and trust go hand in hand. The more that we begin casting our cares upon the Lord and allowing him to carry our burdens, the stronger our walk with Christ will become. Consequently, our trust in him will increase all the more. While numbing our minds with trivial distractions and tasks may appear to be the most attractive option to take, the rewards that come with silencing the mind are infinitely worthwhile. In retrospect, reaching complete stillness may take time and practice, but we must refrain from growing impatient with ourselves throughout this process. More importantly, we have a creator that loves us beyond our faults and imperfections. In fact, his love surpasses our inability to see the potential that he has placed within us. Friend, you are loved. Know that sometimes, surrendering can be the greatest act of growth and bravery that you could ever make.
