Be Still Before God: Encouragement for Busy and Distracted Hearts
Inside: Busy seasons can slowly crowd out time with the Lord. A gentle reminder to slow down and sit at the feet of Jesus.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
“Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42 (ESV)
Some seasons of life feel especially full and distracting.
There are responsibilities waiting for us before the day even begins, and it doesn’t take much for our hearts to become hurried. Even good work can slowly crowd out quiet time with the Lord.
I know how easy this can become in my own life. There are seasons when my mind feels so full of responsibilities and things that need attention that I’m tempted to shorten my time in the Word just to move on to everything else that needs to get done. I may still read something quickly, but I can tell the difference when I haven’t really slowed down before the Lord. My thoughts feel scattered and hurried the rest of the day.
That’s why passages like Psalm 46 and Luke 10 are such a comfort to me.
Psalm 46 was not written during peaceful circumstances. The psalm speaks of mountains shaking, nations raging, and the earth giving way. Yet right in the middle of all the turmoil, God says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” His people could rest, not because life was calm, but because the Lord was still ruling over all of it.
We see this same struggle in Martha in Luke 10.
Martha was busy serving and tending to all that needed attention around her, yet her heart had become anxious and distracted in the process. Jesus was not rebuking hard work or hospitality. Martha was serving Him. But in all her preparation and concern over many things, she had neglected the one thing that mattered most: sitting at the feet of Christ and listening to His Word.
I have a feeling Martha and I would have been good friends and probably worked well together too. I enjoy getting things done and caring for others. But sometimes my heart becomes so focused on the responsibilities in front of me that I lose sight of the Lord in the middle of it all. And I can usually tell pretty quickly when that’s happening because I become distracted and even short with the people around me.
Mary understood that being with Jesus mattered more than all the tasks pressing around her.
And that’s still true for us today.
Being still before God doesn’t always mean sitting alone in a quiet room for an hour. It may be opening your Bible before reaching for your phone in the morning, praying while you work around the house, or thinking again about a verse you read earlier in the day.
The goal is not a perfectly peaceful life with no interruptions or responsibilities. The goal is a heart resting in Christ in the middle of those responsibilities.
Today, slow down long enough to sit before the Lord in His Word. Remember that He is God and that the “good portion” is still found at His feet.
It’s always so wonderful to be reminded of this powerful truth. The best place to be is at His feet. Hallelujah !
Thanks, Marci! I really needed to be reminded of this today. Yesterday my husband asked me how my personal devotional life has been and I had to admit it’s been spotty at best! I do them with he and the kids but sometimes forget about being still before God myself 🙂