Standing Still
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“Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes.”
I Samuel 12:16
I stood beside the water. It was still and calm. The water looked like a crystal sea covered with glass. The light of the sun reflected on the water. It was peaceful and still. I looked up and saw the white fluffy clouds lingering on this peaceful day. I stood still and praised God for the beauty of the day. In our fast-paced world, we rarely linger and stand still to enjoy the moments of beauty around us and quiet our thoughts just to be present.
Then, I experienced a different way of standing still this week. I stood still with my friend, John, in our conversation. He has entered the stage of life where his processing has declined, and he has difficulty expressing in words the thoughts in his head. He cannot recall the word he wants to use. He has a thought to share but cannot articulate it. Instead of pushing forward and trying to anticipate what he wanted to say, I just stood still and waited. At times I would help but I stayed within the boundaries of our current conversation. I stood still and did not take away his dignity.
I also stood still in the pain and hurt of others this week. I listened. I heard the pain and hurt. I stood still in their emotions and uncertainty of life. I stood still with my friend who knew it was time to move and accept the next phase of life. She knew it was necessary, but she felt the burden of the decision. I stood still and listened. I heard her fears and the reality of life that she had to face. Life was changing and it could not be stopped or even slowed down. It was time.
I stood still in the disease of my nephew. I listened to the family. I heard the emotions and the questions. I could not fix anything nor were there any words that would bring healing from the pain and certainty of the future. I was just present. We want time to stand still for a little while so we can catch our breath and enjoy the moments. We do not want our children to grow up so fast that we miss these moments.
It is being brave enough to allow yourself to feel the emotions that you are standing still in. Stand still long enough to feel life. Oh, we try to escape as quickly as possible when the pain and hurt of the world begins to consume us. It is difficult to face the realities of life. It is not going there alone. I take the hand of Jesus when I stand still in the feelings and thoughts of life. I am not alone, but it can feel lonely.
Sometimes, we want to fix life for ourselves and others. We keep busy and believe the more we do and accomplish, the situation will become easier or better. When we pause and rest, anxiety and fear begin to take control. We may even feel some panic that we must keep working to fix the situation. Some situations are not fixable by human hands.
This is when we need to surrender to God. I am not talking about giving up but about trusting God and standing still in God’s presence and allowing God to work and fight for us. It is trusting in what we cannot see. It is having faith that God sees the big picture and is working in the situation.
When I stand still in God’s presence, I am waiting for God. I am not waiting for God to do what I want, but I am waiting to hear God speak to my heart. I am standing still until my heart is connected to God and my desire is what God desires. Standing still slows me down. My thoughts need to stop living in and planning for the future. I need to be still in God’s presence that is with me. I need to stand still and breath in God’s Spirit. I need to stand in worship and praise that God loves me and cares about every detail of my life. I need to stand still and let God work. Stand still.
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