As our nation adjusts to the reality of the COVID19 pandemic, many of us may be grappling with the fact that our world has changed. Regardless of how extensive this pandemic ends up impacting our personal and collective health, it is likely we will be grieving the loss of regular rhythms and practices as we make peace with this new normal.
As I pray for discernment and wisdom for the day to day decisions head, I can feel the emotional toll on my soul as facts, fears and endless social commentary present a constant call to action. Alternatively, I have been challenged and comforted by Psalm 46, but specifically a short command-like phrase that essentially calls me to in-action. Verse 10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Upon further reflection, I can’t help but wrestle with how unproductive this feels. In a culture that celebrates “doing” and my own temperament that prefers action, it seems almost counter-culture and counterintuitive to simply be still.
As I let this phrase blow like a warm breeze through the corridors of my soul, it has a beckoning effect on my restless scheming, dreaming and striving. It seems to invite me to join God in the peaceful pasture of His presence similar to David in Psalm 23 and the comforting fact that He is present and engaged in my circumstances; nothing is too big or complicated for Him.
Psalm 23:1-3 NIV
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
This invitation to stillness, instead of restlessness has become a spiritual discipline for me. It is a way of practicing the art of releasing my grip of perceived control, while floating on the phenomenon of His buoyant and abiding presence even in the midst of threat or chaos.
Years ago I learned that the popular hymn, “It Is Well (with my soul)” was written by a Chicago lawyer named Horatio G. Spafford. Rather than being a song cleverly written in a studio of a famed artist, the words were written during a time when Spafford had suffered an unimaginable personal tragedy. I feel it addresses this idea of stillness of soul and resolute trust in God even when circumstances are outside of our control.
The story goes like this...
Horatio and his wife, Anna, were pretty well-known in 1860’s Chicago. And this was not just because of Horatio's legal career and business endeavors. The Spaffords were also prominent supporters and close friends of D.L. Moody, the famous preacher. In 1870, however, things started to go wrong. The Spaffords' only son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, every one of Horatio’s real estate investments were wiped out by the great Chicago Fire.
Aware of the toll that these disasters had taken on the family, Horatio decided to take his wife and four daughters on a holiday to England. And, not only did they need the rest -- DL Moody needed the help.
And so, the Spaffords traveled to New York in November, from where they were to catch a French steamer to cross the Atlantic. Yet just before they set sail, a last-minute business development forced Horatio to delay. Not wanting to ruin the family holiday, Spafford persuaded his family to go as planned. With this decided, Anna and her four daughters sailed East to Europe while Spafford returned West to Chicago. Just nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales. It read: "Saved alone."
On November 2nd 1873, their boat had collided with another vessel and it sank in only 12 minutes, claiming the lives of 226 people. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck, with her daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters.
Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. Bertha Spafford (the fifth daughter of Horatio and Anna born later) explained that during her father's voyage, the captain of the ship had called him to the bridge. "A careful reckoning has been made", he said, "and I believe we are now passing the place of the ship wreck.” Horatio then returned to his cabin and penned the following lyrics of his great hymn:
It Is Well With My Soul
“When sorrows like sea billows roll...
It is well, it is well, with my soul”
As you grieve and adjust to all the real and potential changes, threats, crisis and tragedy in the days ahead, I invite you to join me in cultivating a discipline of stillness that lets God be God by giving Him permission to rule over the concerns of our hearts and minds. This will not be easy, nor happen without our taking specific steps. Similar to the necessary discipline and skills of high-performance activities, it will take intentional effort and ongoing practice to get comfortable with stillness.
Of course this will not be the only spiritual discipline you will need to practice, but one of many similar to clubs in a golfer’s bag, utensils in the kitchen of a cook or the tools in the belt of a tradesman. Depending on the circumstances, you will need to be practiced and discerning about what tool is the right one for the given situation or season.
Stillness is just one of many spiritual disciplines that God has given us to sooth our soul, anchor our thoughts in truth and apply appropriate action to the reality we are living in the moment. So, in the days ahead I challenge you to mute the phone, power off the news, quiet your heart and set the timer for a five minute date with The Good Shepherd.
In His Grip,
Pastor Dusty
Ideas for Practicing Stillness:
Relevant Song/Video Links:
“When the hour is dark, when the situation is desperate, when we are humbled and brought very low, we finally begin looking and longing for God’s peace”
– Kay Arthur
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
1 Peter 5:6 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Psalm 131:1-2 The Message
A Pilgrim Song
God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,
I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
or fantasized grandiose plans.
I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
my soul is a baby content.
