Peace Be Still

For about the last week, I’ve been listening to this song by The Belonging Co. feat. Lauren Daigle. At first, it came on shuffle on Spotify, and I recognized it as one of the many worship songs we sing at church. I really enjoyed the melody, so I continued to listen to it. Then, I started to really listen to the words.

Peace, be still.

If any of you know even one thing about me, you know I have terrifying anxiety. With this lovely anxiousness comes irrational thoughts, impatience, restlessness. Do you see the word peace in there anywhere? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Within the last week, I have been facing a storm that I didn’t see coming. I’ve worked so hard to get where I am only for it to be taken away from me. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I just keep falling down. I was, like most, angry at God when the storm hit. Why would He do this to me when He knew how hard I’ve been working? The song goes on to say, “I'm not gonna be afraid. I'm not gonna fear the storm. You are greater than it's roar.” That really hit home for me. In the midst of my trials, God is still greater. He is the Great I Am. He is my Father. Would your Father let you fail?

Peace, be still.

I keep repeating those words over and over again in my head. Peace, be still. When I hear the word peace, I think of a calm ocean. The sea is flat and the air is fresh. The only noise you hear is the sound of the subtle waves crashing against the soft sand. Stillness. Peace, be still. God spoke those words upon us. The anxiety in me hears those words and laughs. SURE GOD SURE THING. Let me just tell good ‘ol anxiousness over here to chill out. How the heck am I supposed to be still while I’m dealing with all this stuff? That’s where trust comes in. We are all broken. We all have “stuff” we are constantly dealing with, but we also have a God who is faithful and just. A God who welcomes our brokenness. A God who takes everything away only to reward us tenfold. Don’t get me wrong, I have struggled with my faith year after year. Why do I constantly keep getting stuck in these storms? If God was real, He would be helping me out wouldn’t He? Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” I have to trust that my God will fight for me. I have to be still in the midst of my troubles. Everything thrown at you is preparing you for what’s after the storm. Right now, God is telling me to be still and know that He is God and He is not going to let me fail. He has a plan and I have hope.