Seven Arrows Pointing You to “Be Still & Know”

March 30, 2016  - By Gretchen Saffles

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Life is busy. I know it is. I feel the pangs of busyness every day. My mind often feels fragmented and I have spent many nights going to bed already planning out in detail the day ahead. My planner gets filled each day with all that “needs” to be done and the thought of stopping for a moment in the middle of the day sometimes makes my heart feel panicked. I’ve realized, though, that God hasn’t called His people to hustle and hurry, but to slow down and savor His goodness. He didn’t give us as women a mandate to do all things and be all things to all people. He simply calls us to be faithful with the little that we’ve been given (Luke 16:10). 

Psalm 46:10 is a popular Psalm that has become a token verse of the Christian faith. However, when viewed in its entirety, the command to “be still and know that I am God” is surrounded by complete chaos. Mountains were moving, the earth was crumbling, waters were roaring, nations were raging, and kingdoms were tottering. Does that sound like your days at all? Toddlers were crying, coffee was spilling, doctors reports were foreboding, bank accounts were diminishing, laundry was accumulating…you get the picture. Life is busy, and it was busy and chaotic in Psalm 46. All of these circumstances served as arrows pointing to the Lord as the stability of our days. They were all reminders that we are to be still and know that He is God, even in the midst of the mess and the fear of the unknown. 

The reason I’ve titled this post “Seven arrows pointing you to ‘be still & know'” is because God is not unaware of the circumstances of your life. He knows that He is the answer to your distress and chaos. Your weaknesses, your planner, your family, your mundane moments, and your feelings were all meant to be arrows that point us to our Savior Who is everything that we need. 

Being still is a sign of surrender. It is not always a physical posture, but it can also be a state of mind. Stay your mind on Christ. Stop and remember that He is God and He is faithful. Ask Him to make you aware of the “arrows” pointing you to Him and His grace.

Seven Arrows Pointing You to “Be Still & Know”

  1. You forget to brush your teeth because you start your morning with a dash. You feel “too busy” for small tasks. You need to “be still and know” that He is the God of the milisecond. 
  2. Small hills feel like giant mountains. To-do lists pile up and steal your ability to see Him clearly. Be still and know that He is able to equip you and enable you to do what He has called you to do…step-by-step.
  3. People come become projects. Relationship get put to the back-burner and friendships become a part of your to-do list to be checked off. Be still and know that He has blessed you with relationships to bring joy to your days.
  4. Prayer feels impossible. Your mind is overflowing and you can’t think clearly. Be still and know that He already sees what is coming. It is more important to be in communion with Him as you face the day than to be out of step with Him. Prayer is more important than your to-do list.
  5. You don’t want to stop. This one is key! The moment you feel you “can’t” stop or don’t want to stop is the moment you should stop and refocus your gaze on Jesus. Even in His ministry while He was in the flesh on earth, He stopped, got away, and spent time with the Father.
  6. Your to-do list defines your “success” instead of your Savior. You allow what you check off to deem your importance. Be still and know that He is your worth. Obedience to Him is success, not a list. 
  7. You fear “missing out” if you take a step back to rest and be still. You don’t want to miss a beat and you fear stepping away from the world to be alone with your Maker. Be still and know that He is true, abundant life. When you are in deep fellowship with Him, you won’t miss out on a single thing. 

When any of these things come up in your days, I pray they are arrows that point you to your God who can do all things and cares about you. Choose Him over hustle. 

embracing stillness,

Gretchen

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  1. jamren03@gmail.com says:

    Your a young girl with alot of wisdom and a great teacher. Many of my arrows are pointed in the wrong direction and I need to point them to God. Thank you for your wisdom and guidance. I always learn and so appreciate your posts.

  2. Such a great post dear friend!

  3. So beautiful and true! Just like so much of Jesus’ upside down kingdom, it’s when we feel we least have the time for quiet with Him that we need it the most. ❤️

  4. Brooke says:

    Wow! Needed this so much in the season I’m in. I feel all of the arrows.. Trusting Him to see me thru, choosing to sit quiet even when I don’t understand how it will help.

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