Be still and know



Psalm 46:10 has been one of my favorite verses for a while, but this week it has a deeper meaning. I (Mari) was able to spend a long weekend over 4th of July with loved ones and was reminded of how blessed I am to live in a country where I can freely and openly worship our Lord. I got home Sunday evening and was immediately overwhelmed with anxiety thinking about all that had to be done over the next 5 days before we left and all that we may encounter during our time on the island. Will I make enough progress on my projects at work? Will I forget to pack something important? Will anything bad happen at home while I’m away? Will we be safe at the camp? What if I get sick?  What if we miss a flight? 

How quickly I had gone from thankfulness to crushing fear and anxiousness. Why? I’m an enneagram 6w5 (shout out fellow enneagram lovers J) But really, I’d taken my eyes off Jesus. I'd temporarily forgotten that our God is sovereign, that He is seated on His throne, and that He is the same today as He was yesterday, and as He will be eternally. As I read more into Psalm 46:10, I learned that “still” is not just the absence of physical movement. It’s a stillness that comes from recognizing who God is and standing in awe of His power to silence any opposition. He will be exalted among the nations, He will be exalted in the earth.

What a reminder as we get ready to board our flight Friday afternoon! I don't doubt that we will encounter opposition or moments that we feel overwhelmed over the next several days. May we take a moment to stand still in awe of our Lord who has gone before us, who is both all powerful and all loving, and who will bring about His glory through all situations. Please pray that as we encounter refugees who feel helpless in their situation, that we would take moments to be "still" with them, to listen to them, and to love them well. May we point them to the One who loves them more than words could ever explain. 

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