“Be still and know,” echoed in my mind long after the song ended. Still enough to see. Still enough to hear. Still enough to raise my cupped hands with my paltry offering, all that I have and all that I am in one handful. I offer it to God, hush my thoughts, and wait for the knowing.
And with the part of me that won’t quiet, I give thanks.
Thanks for the pain that stopped me in my tracking race.
Thanks for the awareness of heart pain of others.
Thanks for the dark night that shook my hands from their grasping after perfection.
Thanks for the grace of now.
And as I wait — finally stilled — the nail-scarred hand reaches out and receives my gift.
What can he do with so little? I can’t write like Ann Voskamp, or sing like Nicole Nordeman, or teach like Beth Moore.
But he smiles. And even as he did on the hillside over two millennia ago, he thanks the father and blesses. He transforms my offering into nourishment for others.
He whispers that no one can love my family or friends in the unique way that I can.
No one else can be me (or you).
My life, his gift.
I receive my life again from his hand, and give thanks as he feeds the poor and hurting and hungry from the little I offer him.
And in the process, I hear the mountains sing of their great Creator.
I see his power in the crest of the wave.
His perfection in the flight of the hummingbird.
I know his tenderness in the baby seal.
I feel his delight in the grace of my granddaughter in her gymnastics routine.
I taste his goodness on walks by snow melt streams,
and the sweetness of friends I’ve never seen, but love across the invisible lines of the Internet.
I don’t need to be on a hillside in Galilee to see the miracle.
Be still and know.
He is here.
God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us Ps 46:1-3 The Message He says, “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 NIV
Have you had a Be Still season?
(To see the photos and the song, click on the title for the web version.) All photos property of Jack H Thompson. All rights reserved.
Glimpse of Peace 
Love this one!! Ahhh 🙂 So good, true and straight from-to the heart.
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Thank you, Kim. My heart to yours.
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Thank you for your heart, Dani. That is a treasure, my friend and sister, tied by those invisible lines.
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Jane, your heart is an open sea of rich treasure. And I am truly blessed to know you.
May you know your words, songs and lessons are enough.
More than enough.
With heart and friendship,
Dani
P.S. Beautiful images. But more importantly…
Beautiful heart.
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beautiful pictures, Jane! Yes, I had a “be still” time when I recently read a couple books about the first couple of hers after Jesus died. I was so humbled by how the early Christians suffered, and often died for their faith! We can attend church without being afraid of losing our lives. We need to realize what the early Christians went through in order to bring the Christian faith to many thousands of people. Because of their ridicule and suffering when they told of their beliefs, we are able to worship in peace today. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t even know anything about Jesus! Are you willing to die for your faith? Are we all? Thank you for the great devotions!
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sorry, I see a typo. “the first couple of years”, it is supposed to say. I was a “Stephen Minister” for a few years when I lived in Pennsylvania. After reading about his death, and seeing how it affected those around him,
I am proud to have carried his name in my work helping people.
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Thank you, Pat. I am so blessed to have a resident photographer! My problem is narrowing down my selections.
There are currently more dying for their faith now, and we are fortunate to have the religious liberty our constitution affords. I’m sure you’ve heard the question, but this brings it to mind: If you could be killed for your faith, would there be enough evidence to convict you? It makes me pause and wonder if my life looks any different to those outside my walls.
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