Articles
The Secret to a Tranquil Life
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Be still and know that I am God. (Psa. 46:10)
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Every human heart longs for peace and tranquility. Unfortunately, the chaos of our crazy world does not leave much room for it. A tranquil life can be found, but it requires a deliberate approach. In this verse, God offers a simple three-step strategy.
Step One: Be still. The greatest obstacle to a peaceful life is a frazzled lifestyle. When we max out every waking hour with work, family, housekeeping, and socializing, we are left with precious little time to decompress. The result is usually burn-out; physical and mental exhaustion. We must learn how to "be still," to periodically disconnect from this world and reconnect with another. Even Jesus understood the need to "come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mk. 6:31). We should heed His advice. Dial back the commitments. Schedule quality "down" time. Find a quiet place where the world does not intrude, and immerse ourselves in the solitude.
Step Two: Know. To "know" something is to open our minds to a truth outside ourselves. This is not "MY truth," a fiction that we create for ourselves. Our feelings and wishes are as unstable as the world around us, and provide a poor foundation. That's why our lives are such a frenetic mess to start with. Rather, this truth is an external reality which we do not control and cannot change. There is a source of strength outside of ourselves, but we must align our thinking with its nature. We must make room in our minds to know it.
Step Three: That I am God. The one central truth that buttresses all others is the knowledge that God exists and that He is everything He claims to be. God's existence gives purpose to ours. He alone brings order out of confusion and meaning out of chaos. Because of who He is and what He does, "God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble" (v. 1). To know that truth is to find a peace that calms the anxious soul.
Friend, if you feel that your life is spiraling out of control, ponder the message of this simple verse. Peace and tranquility are possible, but only if you let God take over.
Be still and know that He is God.
--David
