Be Still

I used to love to visit my grandma’s house. She was one of my very favorite people in the world. Her house smelled like wood stove and ginger snaps…sometimes I would come and I would catch her still in bed. I would slip under the covers with her and snuggle up to her back. Every time she would reach around behind her, touch my legs and say “Be still”. It makes me smile to think about it. I miss her.

When I came to Peoples Church 2 ½ years ago, I was grieving the loss of my church family and of my friendships. My family and I had been here for almost a year and my husband and kids were connecting, but I wasn’t. I knew that I was holding back. I wasn’t worshiping like normal, I wasn’t going forward for prayer even when I knew I needed to, I wasn’t getting involved in Bible studies…nothing. No connection. My husband and I came to a worship night and he was playing guitar, so I was sitting alone. As the music began I could feel myself trying to hold back from entering in when all of the sudden I sat down. That was unusual for me. And then, I went totally quiet. I didn’t sing a note, also unusual for me. As I sat there being quiet and being still, I heard a voice say to me “Why are you running after them? I am all you need, run after me.” Instantly I began to weep, not cry, I wept. All of the hurt, all of the loneliness, all the anger and frustration, the pent up emotions were released in a flood. I shook my head that “yes”, I knew that He was right. He is all I need. It was one of those moments that you look back on and cherish for the rest of your life. God spoke a word directly to me at the time of my need, in one of my weakest moments, when I was finally able to be still. I wonder how often I have missed what He was trying to say to me because I simply could never be still long enough to listen to Him.

I’m not sure why grandma wanted me to be still, but it didn’t matter to me, I was with her, I was hearing her breath, touching her hair, smelling her perfume, it was time with just me and her. Sometimes she never spoke a word, it was just a special time in her presence and other times she would whisper special words to me of love and encouragement…Like my time with Jesus….sometimes just precious moments in His presence, taking in His Spirit and other times, listening to His words of love and encouragement for me.

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

Written by Mandy Augsburger