On Being Still, and Knowing God

A neighbor was complaining that their young son would not go down for a nap. They said they had tried everything—trying to wear him out with play, rocking him gently, singling to him, warm milk. 

So I told them to call the police.

“What?!” they responded. 

Yes, I said. Have him charged with resisting a rest.

That is a silly story. But there is a hidden truth in here too. As adults, we all resist resting and it only works against what’s best for us.

I was thinking of this recently. As a professor with a lighter schedule in the summer, I was pondering what it means to rest. I recalled a famous Bible verse, Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

As one who enjoys being in nature—backpacking, kayaking, etc—I have long misinterpreted this passage. I thought it meant being literally still, alone, taking a break from work, contemplating the beauty of creation and praising God for it. That’s a good thing to do. But some years ago someone at church got me to see it more clearly.

The verse actually means stop fighting, and trust God. Seeing the verse for its true meaning was helpful and led to a new perspective with practical implications:

• I should not try to do things myself. I should always seek direction and help through prayer.

• I should not fret about what I can not control. There is much wrong in this world but I am powerless to change it, and much of it is prophesied. God has a plan and total control.

• I should trust God. This is easier said than done. If I have given things over to God I need to believe with confidence and patience that He will handle whatever it is on my mind.

• I should find my rest in Him. I should not resist a rest, but should stop fighting. When God rested on the seventh day after creating the world, it was’t because He was tired. It was because the job was done. And it was good. I need to remember that whatever it is I may be fighting for on my own is something God has already handled. 

It turns out there are many times this theme plays out in the Bible. An Old Testament example is Exodus 14:13-14 when Moses is leading the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt: “And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

In the New Testament, Jesus offers rest many times, such as in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

So much worry, anxiety, depression and life crises could be avoided by applying this lesson. If we stop fighting and relying on our own efforts and remember who Jesus is, we will have the peace we need to find rest.