He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
In this particular verse, 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.” We were told to be still in all adverse circumstances. Easily said, but as a human being in the real world, it is utterly impossible to do so. How often in the midst of a crisis, our mortal beings are paralysed with fears and trepidation. We have been “programmed” into our nervous system to respond to fear when we perceived one, or when confronted, in the presence of danger. The ability to feel fear is a biological response that was created in our being, just like the other sensory ability to respond to touch, sight, taste, hear, and smell. These are the five basic or primary senses that made us human beings. Although of late, scholars are repudiating this established concept by stating that there are indeed more senses than the given fives. Let’s not be troubled…….be still.
In other words, fear is the product of a response to sensory ability in our human mind. The brain triggers a strong stimulus to our human body, resulting in a detectable change or expression of its bodily structure. As a matter of biblical fact, fear only operates in the physical realm in which our mortal beings exist. Therefore, as a child of God, shouldn’t we comprehend and see things in the spiritual realm, rather than with our physicals? In Galatians 5:17, Paul told us that our mortal physical man, which is the flesh, wars against the spirit as they both does not agree. And in 1 Corinthians 2:14, the person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them. There was an incident recorded in the book of 2 Kings, specifically in chapter 6, verses 17 to 20 where prophet Elisha prayed that his fearful servant’s physical eyes be opened to the real imagery of spiritual advantage over physical reality. When his servant spiritual eyes were opened, he saw legions upon legions of fiery spiritual hosts surrounding the mere Syrians’ army of horses and chariots.
Remember also God’s words through Moses to the multitudes of fearful Israelites at the shore of the Red Sea? Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. He will fight on your behalf, but did anyone really listen to Moses? Will they able to comprehend the Lord’s assurance when He said, “I, the Lord will fight for you; you only need to stand still” I would also be in panic stricken mode if I am caught with the prospect of the Red Sea in front of me and the thunderous advance of chariots and Egyptian army behind me. It is an undesirable dilemma with certainty of death. The carnal man cannot perceive the Almighty opening up a way through the sea for His people. That is the nature of the carnal man. Only through the spiritual lens can man see the hands of God at the bottom of the Red Sea. The spiritual man can see His breath, separating the sea and creating a path for His people. That is why the spiritual man is able to be still and know that He is God. Moses stood still with his rod on both arms lifted high as God open the great mighty Red Sea before the doubtful Israelites. What an awesome display of power, matched equally with the unquivering faith of Moses in his God Almighty.
We do not have to be in the same experiences as recorded in the bible of the exploits of great men of God. As Christian, our challenges may come in any forms of life’s trials and tribulations. The fact of the matter is that when we become a child of the almighty God, it does not immune us from problems in this life time. We will still face problems such as sickness or tragedy to ourselves or our loved ones, financial hardship, death of close family’s member and etc. Or though, our challenges may not be as dramatic as the Israelites at the Red Sea, but certainly, it does have the magnitude of stress and anxieties. Many would doubt God’s existence at the onslaught of such personal tsunamis. Our mortal man would question God and His love for us. Would a good and loving God allow such tragedies and sufferings to be on us? How can He claimed to be a loving God on one hand, while on the other, allow devastating trials and tribulations to overwhelm us? The bible clearly teaches us that our God is a loving father to his children, and He will “works all things together for the good of His children” as recorded in Romans 8:28. He only demanded that we trust Him and see the trials and tribulations that immobilized us with the spiritual lens of faith. Didn’t He also assure us that He will be with us through all of our trials and tribulations? Whatever our adverse circumstances, even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil as He accompany us…… stated affirmatively in Psalm 23:4. Our trust in Him must allow God to work His divine plans in our life. By faith, we should discern that whatever He is doing is part of the “Great Master”, working together of all things, be it good or bad, for the better of us.
When that happens, we have truly grasped the profound wisdom and lesson of “Be still and know that I am God.”
I would like to share this beautiful song below and pray that the lyrics will minister to you in whatever challenges and problems in the coliseum of life that you may face now. Only be sure to stand still and know that God is God in our dire strait’s situation working for the good of us. Be still!
Hide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still, know You are God
Find rest, my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still, know You are God
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
And I will be still, know You are God
You are my God
My God, my God
Find rest, my soul
In Christ alone, oh yeah
Know His power
In quietness and trust
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm (oh, yes, I will)
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still, know You are God
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Yes, I will, yes, I will
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still know You are God
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still, know You are God
Oh, yes, You are, oh, yes, You are
I will be still, Lord