Despite being in my home all of the time over the last few months, I find that life is racing by. During the past spring semester, that wasn’t surprising, since I had so much work to do. However, I still have that feeling even in this “relaxed” summer period. Hours melt into days that melt into weeks with remarkable speed, while I struggle to accomplish any of the things I intended to achieve during this break from classes. 

Causes for the phenomenon are easy to find: 

• The sameness of days spent at home.
• The news, with its many sources of concern and stress.
• Family concerns, as some of my immediate family members who do not live in the same state struggle with health issues of various kinds.
• The (too) many things I had hoped to accomplish over the summer.
• Uncertainty, especially about the fall semester and preparing to teach when none of us really know what the circumstances will be when classes start (and, more importantly, several weeks after classes start).

With all of these things in my mind, I find myself racing from one task to the next, with even my Bible reading, prayer, and leisure activities feeling frantic. I’m just on a treadmill that is going way too fast.

The stresses of our current circumstances are real. As much as we may want to scream to the world to stop and give us a break, it has become quite clear that no breaks are coming any time soon.

I’m reminded of others whose problems were real. 

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah is running from the queen, Jezebel, who has sworn to kill him. God comes to him and listens to his complaint, but Elijah has to stop and listen before he can have the real conversation with God.

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13 ESV)

The dramatic, miraculous events are not when God speaks. Only after, in the quiet, in the stillness, does the communication happen.

In 2 Kings 6, Elisha and his servant are surrounded by a large army that has come to capture him. The servant is understandably frightened, so Elisha takes time to pray that the servant’s eyes be opened. The servant then sees that God is protecting them with “chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17b ESV).

 The night before the crucifixion, Jesus knows what is coming. He knows that he is about to be betrayed by one of his chosen followers. He knows that his followers will desert him, that he will suffer a terribly painful death. His response? To spend three hours in prayer.

I know this. I know that God is central to my peace. I know that “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3 ESV). This is why I’ve worked hard to maintain my Bible reading and get back into Bible memorization. Even so, I don’t always feel God’s peace. I let the rushing take over even my time with God. 

We have to stop, to breathe, to take time, to listen. That’s hard in times like these, but absolutely necessary. We must obey the instruction: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a ESV). That verse is well-known, but we often do not pay attention to its context. This psalm is about God’s power and protection in the midst of terrible things–disasters both natural and man-made.

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
                               . . .
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 46:1-3;8-11 ESV

Even n the midst of our current disasters, we are called to be still and to know that God is, in fact, God. He is in control. He is our refuge and our protection. His peace will be ours if we only stop and focus on him.

Photo by Jose Aragones on Unsplash