That is true, you know?
I mean, exceedingly hard to comprehend, but true, nonetheless.
The Lord has spoken this over my life many times. He is always in battle for me. Jesus is ever interceding for me. He never stops watching over me. Isn’t it interesting that sometimes, all He wants from us in return is (for us) to be still.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;”
He also was known to use that exact phrase when He got up in the boat and rebuked the waves in Mark 4:39. “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
Doesn’t it strike you (even a little bit) that it seems like it is the moments in life where the waves are spilling in over the sides of the boat - and they threaten to sink the whole ship - it seems those are the times He says, “be still.”
He knows what we can handle.
He knows our weaknesses.
He knows our inability to calm the waves.
But, the reason He can tell us to be still is that He also knows - He is able.
He has commanded that they cease - and they have NO CHOICE but to obey.
He knows that what we were powerless to do, He did for us on the cross.
As I was thinking that, I pulled up that scripture so that I could remember why I thought the whole earth was still for 3 hours during that time. Here is what I found:
Luke 23:44-46 records it like this, “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last.”
Isn’t it something that the whole land was still for 3 hours during the time of Christ’s crucifixion? I mean, I guess technically, it didn’t have to be still, but it was dark - over the whole land. When I looked up the word “dark” as used in that verse, it had the synonym blind. The whole earth was blinded for 3 hours as the sun was obscured. I also looked that word up - obscured - it said, “fail”, and “to leave; quit” The sun quit. I know it is likely describing an eclipse. But, it is as if the sun couldn’t shine because the Son was dying. Maybe that is how my “hollywood” brain thinks. I am dramatic. But, can’t you just see the sun submitting to the Father as the Son submitted to the Father?
And, talk about a moment of blindness. Seriously, we couldn’t see at all. We couldn’t see that the King of Kings was hanging - in pain, and taking away the sins of the world. Surely we were blind.
I lump myself (and you) in that, because really, haven’t we been just as guilty as those that stood and mocked Him? I like to think of myself as Mary. As the one who knew Him. Who longed to sit at His feet and learn from Him - believing Him and loving Him. But, so many times I am just as Peter - denying Him - or worse yet, one of the Pharisees - with my list of “duties” and my own record of rights.
This week. This solemn, and joyous - horrible and wonderful week - I am going to choose to be still. I am going to choose to look for Him and wait on Him. And I am going to praise Him that He chose me - even when He knew He would have to die for me, He chose me.
Hallelujah what a Savior!
