Be Still - Rest in Him - Renew Your Strength

Reading an ancient book about HOPE while being home quarantined for ten days on a cold December afternoon sparked this story. A story written while being still and resting in Him fills my cup and renews my strength. A story about God being exalted is fitting ‘for such a time as this’ when turbulent times threaten peace on earth while Satan stirs hatred and steals joy.

These stay at home days have given time to wait, listen, read, write, and soak up the presence of the Holy Spirit that stirs my conscience and soothes my heart. Being still, a challenge we are wise to embrace plays out in the most inopportune times...Be Still - when your car won’t start and you’re already late. Be Still - when your loved one tests positive for Covid and guidelines for safety vary from place to place. Be Still - when your new Christmas sweatshirt was bleached with Learning Station towels and you could cry. Be Still when a deadline is due for your weekly column and your computer refuses to SEND! Be Still when the peppermint mocha cake your son and his wife shipped you from New York slipped from your fingers and chocolate went everywhere. Be Still when the wind blows your Christmas decorations across the swamp on Christmas Eve. Be Still when your family gathers for Christmas and your son’s prayer brings tears in many eyes... and thankfulness for togetherness.

Be Still times come to calm our ‘frazzles’ and provide rest in His serenity.

Writing in December what you will read in February enables me to stay caught up and enjoy writing without stressful deadlines looming. I am grateful that I have health to work and handle a lot of things that need to be done daily at home, Tim’s Gift, and The Learning Station. I am humbled to pick up canned goods monthly at my church and deliver them to First Baptist 900 College Street - a duty I lovingly took over when it became difficult for Sam to do three years ago. His shining smile showed appreciation as we stood still in the afternoon sun and felt God’s presence. I am blessed to teach children about Jesus and thrilled to be living with my son’s family in a farmhouse where happiness and love grow greater every day He gives us together. When I am weary and tired from long days and lists of things to do, I find a place to be still and rest in Him. An old poem called, “ For One Who is Tired’ popped up on a page in my Hope Book as I prepare to end this story. This poem powerfully points to Psalm 46:10 and 27:14 to help us be still and rest in Him when weariness consumes and our cup needs to be filled.

“Dear Child,

God does not say today, Be Strong - He knows your strength is spent!

He knows how long the road has been - How weary you’ve become, for

He who walked this earth alone - Each boggy lowland and each rugged hill,

Understands - and so He simply says, “Be Still, Be Still and know that I am God”

The hour is late and you must rest awhile - and you must wait until life’s empty reservoirs fill up-

As slow rain fills an empty upturned cup.

Hold up your cup, dear child, for God to fill.

He only asks that YOU BE STILL!”

Father, please help us when weariness overwhelms...to simply be still and wait for Your strength, your sweetness to fill us up, and most of all Your blessed presence!

Thank you for Being Still and reading this story. May your heart be blessed as mine was writing it and your cup be filled with Faith, Hope, and Love