Psalm 46:10
Our God says, “Calm down,
and learn that I am God!
All nations on earth
will honor me.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This
morning, I stood in the shower and thought about the events that
unfolded in our world in the last 24 hours. And I made a very profound promise to God …”I will not ask…”
- I will not ask…why my
husband’s brother endured surgery for prostate cancer in late July that
brought a lengthy recovery, only to be involved in a deadly car crash
just before Christmas.
- I will not ask…why my
brother-in-law had to go through three surgeries for four bowel
resections, a concussion, stroke and fractured sternum – and all of the
tests, procedures and indignities that came with this, only to die ten
days later.
- I will not ask…why my 66-year-old
brother-in-law and his family members had to suffer through rounds of
cardiac arrest, when death was the ultimate outcome.
- I will not ask…why my 89-year-old mother-in-law had to lose her middle son.
- I will not ask…why my own mother continues to decline with cancer that seems to be rapidly overtaking her body.
- I
will not ask…why in the midst of all of this, Greg and I caught a
respiratory bug that pretty well knocked us to our knees for about a
week each.
- I will not ask…why others are sick, suffering, grieving…why wars are being fought and orphans have no home.
- I
will not ask…why people are struggling with addictions, homelessness,
money woes, discrimination and injustices of all kinds…and so much more.
I cannot
ask these questions…because every time I do, I hear God clearly saying,
“What if JESUS had asked why He had to suffer for you?” I hear Him
say, “How do you think what you are enduring could possibly compare in
the least to that?!” And I am stopped dead in my tracks.
I hear
God saying, “Don’t you think I am with you, even now? Do you really
know who I am?” And I am instantly humbled…and comforted…and blessed.
Even in the middle of such chaos, God wants me to calm down…to “be still
and know” that He is God – and He can handle all of this without any
input from me!
I have no clue what 2016 is going to bring our
way. But I know that we are going to get through every bit of it,
because of God. When I kissed Greg goodnight and wished him a Happy New
Year, my heart ached for him. I know the emptiness of losing a
brother…we’ve been down the road of watching a parent suffer from a
lengthy illness. I comforted my 80-something grandmother when my dad –
her only son – died at the age of 63.
In the last several days,
I’ve had my moments...but for the most part, I have been relatively
calm. And people have asked, “How are you doing that?” My answer is
simple…”I’m not…God is.” What about you? Who is holding you close
today and keeping you calm? Isn’t it time you knew?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Psalm 46:8-10
Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
I cannot begin to tell you
how weary I am of political ads…and political and “personal opinion”
comments and postings on social media. Occasionally I will agree with a
post, if I feel strongly about it. I have tried to reserve any
disagreement for private messaging and personal interaction with the
other party. I know these sorts of comments and posts have caused me to
“unfriend” a few people in order to disassociate with what I consider
to be vile rants or opinions. And I know that some have “unfriended” me
because they feel I am too liberal or disagree otherwise with my
thoughts. Or maybe they just don’t like me!
The point is…none of
this really important. Life is not about social media – or the
opinions of others, for that matter. What truly is significant is our
relationship with God…what He thinks of us – and what we feel for Him. The time has come for us to step back…take a deep breath, and “Be still and know”.
“Be still and know”…
- who God really is
- what God expects of us
- what God thinks about situations vs man’s ideas and opinions
- the power of God to “make a way” where none seems possible
- the infinite, amazing, all-encompassing capacity of God to love us, no matter what
“Be
still and know” the God who is far more than politics, people, and the
propaganda of social media. Rest in His love and care…relax as He
guides your steps…renew in His amazing restorative powers. Discover –
maybe even for the first time – just how important – and comforting - a
relationship with God is. Take a break from the “noise” of the rest of
the world to discover the peace, joy, and rest of giving Him your
undivided, unending attention.
Step out of the traffic! Take a
long, loving look at God and ask yourself whether you are giving Him
your full attention…or listening to outside influences. “Be still and
know” the One who truly matters!
©2014 Debbie Robus
