Be Still and Know

10/10/2025 5 min Temporada 20 Episodio 693
Be Still and Know

Listen "Be Still and Know"

Episode Synopsis

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. I’m a big fan of the movie Groundhog Day. I’ve seen it a couple of dozen times, and it is a tradition in our house to watch it on February 2nd every year. In the movie, weatherman Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, gets stuck reliving the same day over and over again in the small Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney, the home of the famous groundhog “Punxsutawney Phil.” At first, Connors spends countless loops of the same day frantically trying to escape his situation. He schemes, manipulates, and forces outcomes, getting more desperate with each failed attempt. He tries to control everything and everyone around him, exhausting himself in the process. Fair warning - spoilers ahead. His real transformation begins when he finally stops fighting against his circumstances and accepts his current situation. Instead of frantically trying to get somewhere else, he starts using the time to learn the piano, read poetry, and genuinely serve others. He becomes present in each moment rather than always trying to escape to the next one. The breakthrough comes not when he figures out how to leave Punxsutawney, but when he stops trying to leave at all. "Be still." In Hebrew, the word is raphah, which literally means to let go, to release your grip, to stop striving. It's the opposite of everything our culture tells us to do. We're supposed to hustle, optimize, and never stop moving. The idea of being still feels almost rebellious. This psalm is not written for people lounging by a peaceful lake. The verses preceding this describe earthquakes, mountains collapsing into the sea, and nations in uproar. The psalmist is addressing people in the middle of chaos, not a meditation retreat. God's invitation to "be still" comes right in the midst of the storm. I think about those moments when life feels like it's spinning out of control. Our natural response is to do something, fix something, control something. We make lists, research solutions, and exhaust ourselves trying to manage what's often unmanageable. But God says, "Be still and know that I am God." It doesn't say "be still and figure it out" or "be still and make a plan." It says, "know that I am God." It isn't about becoming passive or giving up. It's about remembering whose hands actually hold the world together. It's about loosening our white-knuckled grip on outcomes we can't control anyway. The second part of the verse reminds us that God will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. In other words, God's purposes will be accomplished with or without our frantic efforts. That's not meant to make us feel insignificant—it's meant to free us from the crushing weight of thinking everything depends on us. John Wesley talked about "holy waiting"—those moments when the most spiritual thing we can do is stop our striving and trust God's timing. It's not about being lazy; it's about learning to rest in God's sovereignty while remaining open to how He might use us. Here’s some good news: you don't have to have all the answers right now. You don't have to solve everything today. Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is stop trying to escape your current circumstances and learn to be fully present with God right where you are. Prayer: Father, in our noisy, restless world, teach us the sacred art of being still. Help us release what we cannot control and rest in the knowledge that you are God. Amen. This devotional was written by Cliff McCartney. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the...