Take Root and Write - Choose to Rest in the Father Everyday

Choose to Rest in the Father Everyday: "

"Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10a NKJV)."

A child develops a chronic illness...

A spouse decides to pursue another relationship and leaves us alone...

How are we deal with the problems that come into life? Do we rage and stomp at the unfairness of it all? Do we weep and retreat into ourselves to hide?

"God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its
waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its
swelling (Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV)."

Psalm 46 is a song for us to sing during times of trouble. We can be so caught in the trouble of the day that we see no way of escaping the stress and pain. If we don't quiet ourselves when the trouble comes, if we just focus on the immediate pain, we can't hear or feel the comfort God has for us.

"There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted (Psalm 46:4-6 NKJV).

We do not have to suffer alone. Jesus did that for us when He suffered alone on the cross. That was the only time in all of eternity that He experienced complete separation from His Father. After He rose from the grave and ascended to heaven, He left us a Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He is the still small voice that speaks comfort when our hearts are crushed. He is the still small voice that warns us not to make the wrong choices in response to trouble. He is the groaning too deep for words that cries out to the Father...

And we can draw comfort because...

"The Lord of host is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge"(Psalm 46:7 NKJV).

Our Creator God is the source of power that we can claim as His children. His power is mighty and able to to help...

"Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolation in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire" (Psalm 46:8-9 NKJV)

All it takes is a willingness to hear Him when He speaks, through the mightiness of His hand in creation, through His inspired word written in the Holy Scriptures or through His still small voice whispering to our aching heart...

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Psalm 46:10 NKJV)

Once we are still, we will know these reassuring truths that can take us through the trouble and lead us to joy in Him.

1. God is our refuge.

2. God is our strength.

3. God is our ever-present help.

If we remember this

4. We will not fear no matter what comes our way because

5. The Lord is with us.

Sometimes we feel that we don't hear that Voice, but we have a guarantee that God is always near us. Pray this today:

Father, I know you are with me because you tell me that "the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to Him" (Deuteronomy 4:7 NIV). Help me be still and hear Your voice of comfort so I can rest in You today. Amen."