Toes in the Sand 1: Be Still

I do not like to sit still. I will sit for a movie or TV show that my husband and I are watching together, although sometimes I am also doing something on my phone because I have trouble just sitting there. Typically, though, I am ironing or doing some other chore if I am watching TV. 

I listen to books on Audible so that I can learn or be entertained while I am driving in my car or taking a walk. My Bible time is spent learning while I search the scriptures for material for a blog post, teen devotional, or children’s class for church. If feels more like “killing two birds with one stone” when I do it that way. (Yes, that is what I’m doing right now.)

I sometimes walk and pray, especially when I am dealing with tough things. I find that moving my body helps me process strong emotions.

I get frustrated when I have 20 things on my “to do” list and only have 10 of them done by 9:00 am.

Following this scripture is tough for me: Psalm 46:10 {NKJV] “Be still, and know that I [am] God…”

So, when I saw the schedule for the Toes in The Sand retreat with “Soul Time” for reflecting in the morning and then HOURS of “Toes in the Sand” time for doing whatever you want in the afternoon, I confess that I freaked out a little. How was I possibly going to handle that without chewing my cuticles raw? I don’t sunbathe because of my skin cancer (and also because it involves sitting for periods of time), I could not take long walks due to a minor injury of my foot.

Then, in Mark 4:39 [NKJV], I read this, “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”

And my spirit understood that Jesus could and would also rebuke the storm in my mind, the whirling thoughts of work and family and responsibilities and worry and planning and a thousand things to do. “Peace, be still”, He said. Or maybe “Just try being still. Just this once, give stillness a chance.”

And that is what I did. I gave stillness a chance at least for some of the time. (I am a work in progress.) It was not easy but I made an effort to focus on quieting my brain and being present. Being at the beach helped because that is my happy place. I can focus on experiencing the sound of the waves, the smell of the salt, the feel of the breeze. I am happy to report that my cuticles are intact.

There in my hard-won stillness, I did feel like I was able to “hear” from God – not some revelation about myself, not some prophesy for the future, but a message that touched my heart and impacts my plans. (I will share what I “heard” in the next blog.)

1 Kings 19:11-13 [NKJV] 11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, [but] the LORD [was] not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard [it], that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice [came] to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

It seems to me that we are far too quick to give God credit for speaking in the disasters of life. Floods, tornados, drought, etc. are too frequently seen as His hand in punishing the nation or the people for their sins. Yes, sin does bring consequences. However, according to 1 Kings 19:11-13, we might be better served to listen for God’s message for the nation, the people around us and ourselves in the quiet times.

I know that, as a parent, I would typically start instructing my children with a calm voice and ramp up the volume and power if I felt that they were not listening. God can work that way too.

This scripture seems to indicate that God did just the opposite to get Elijah’s attention. God spoke to him in the quiet after the storm.

In Mark 4:40 [NLT] we see that Jesus had a word for His disciples after He quieted the storm too.  Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

So, I have to ask, “Where is my faith when I only focus on the storm?” Where is my faith if I only focus on the activity, on doing? Where is my faith if I’m not offering Him quiet time that is specifically devoted to listening for His voice?

This is the purpose of Biblical meditation – to read the word and then think about it, “listening” for what it is saying to me.

Psalm 46:10 {NKJV] “Be still, and know that I [am] God…”

We have plenty of activity at the Toes in the Sand retreat, including interactive discussions, stretching on the beach, collecting shells, lessons/instruction, making dream boards, helping with cooking and cleaning up, and even some dancing. We also had “soul time” for meditating on Bible discussions/lessons.

I came back with a renewed commitment to quiet time - when I am neither reading nor writing, but just thinking about what God might be saying to me in the scripture. I already know that God will meet me there and my soul will be blessed. I know it will be worth the time.

I also know that I’m just going to have to work at it because I didn’t miraculously lose my desire to “be productive” in every moment, or then nagging feeling that stillness is not an effective use of my time. I will work at it because the “knowing God” part comes in the times when we choose to be still. And I would like to know Him more. I believe that He has fresh words for me still – after all these years of walking with Him.

I feel Him saying, “Dear daughter, be still and know Me.”

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me now in the comments section or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org