Day 16 – Issue 17

Be Still Know

Psalm 33:8 NLT

‘Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him.’

I’m sure my life would have continued uninterrupted within platform Christianity unless it had not been so rudely confronted by Katey’s MS. Circumstances can prove the greatest influence upon both opinion and mood. My initial expectation that prayer was the way forward to a supernatural healing never materialised. I looked for God beyond myself until my own inability to process the pain and confusion led to my implosion.

What to do? I was sorely tempted to walk away from God because he had not met my need in a way I determined. Angrily, I cursed the very God I’d proclaimed for so many years. Yet, I began to discover that God was within me. I was wedded to him in a remarkable way. From the moment of my saying ‘Yes’ to following Christ, God had taken up residence within. For so long I’d ignored my house guest, while vainly seeking God without.

My instability, as I travelled with our pain, was due to a failure to connect with the pillar within, the foundation of the house of God. As I slowly turned my gaze from scanning the horizon to looking within, I found the God of the scriptures.

For so long I had objectively studied and pursued God. Now I realised he was within, seeking to reconstruct among the rubble of my fractured self. He had both the authority and skill to raise something from the ruins of my life.

I became aware of a growing sense of awe in the face of God. I quietened my endless stream of chatter. Silenced by his immense presence and gentle engagement with my wounded self, I discovered that true stability consists of leaning upon God, rather than enthusiastic repetition of truths about him. It is knowing God, not knowing a lot about God.

QUESTION: Do you know more about God than actually knowing God himself?

PRAYER: Lord, let the greatest knowledge I possess be that of truly knowing you.