Still My Soul Be Still

In the wake of the ISIS attacks in Paris on Friday and the double-suicide bombing in Lebanon, I need to tell my soul to be still. The winds of change are raging in a world where there is no love of God, no moral compass, and no regard for humanity. Believing God is at my side is what I cling to; otherwise, I would fear the coming persecution.

The chorus: “God You are my God, and I will trust in you and not be shaken” is hard for me. I will not lie. I am shaken to the core of my being, my soul. My husband and I are supposed to fly to Puerto Rico in February to take a cruise through the Caribbean. I don’t want to go. My thoughts race to the Russian plane brought down by ISIS, and I question whether it is safe to fly. A cruise ship is manned by people from many nations.  Do I trust they won’t bring a bomb on the ship? Yes, paranoia has set in. My daughter tells me when I refuse to do what I love out of fear, ISIS wins. That’s why I have to make the declaration: “Lord of peace renew a steadfast spirit within me to rest in YOU alone.”

Psalm 62:5 says, “My soul waits in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.” Silence is the hard part. Sometimes when the world rages against us, in our frenzy me make it an “Act of War.” Silence is a posture. It says, “I trust in you God to be my salvation, to be my defender, and to be my ONLY hope.” Silence is when we should be on our knees, humbly asking God for mercy.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” We have to take confidence in this truth. I admit it is hard when we hear of Christians being persecuted and beheaded by ISIS. God knew what we would face in the latter days. He provided a deep truth to us in this scripture. ”BE STILL and KNOW THAT I AM GOD.” Remember how I said it was a posture? II Chronicles 20:17 says, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf…” So the battle is not ours. It is God’s. We just need to be still, stand firm, and hold our position. We will see the salvation of God. He will be exalted in the nations.

Our hope should be in God because the day is dimming. But the light of God shines brighter than ever. The light is in us. We need to extend it to those who are fearful. Thousands of refugees are fleeing the turmoil in their countries. After what just happened in Paris, they, too, will face persecution. Let’s not fall prey to fear. What would Jesus do? He would want us to love them, embrace them, and protect them. I understand your fear. My mind says, “Close the borders. Don’t let them in. They are dangerous.” But my heart says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18).


Today, tell your soul to be still. Take a posture of silence. See God work in the midst of chaos. BE STILL and KNOW HE IS GOD!!!!