“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently.” (Psalm 37:7)

It’s the third of April and snow is falling steady outside my window. The robins that were so eager to announce spring have now hidden themselves as the world stills and is transformed from grubby brown to stunning white. The scene outside echos in my soul as I consider the words of the Psalmist against the clamor just under my own skin.

“Be still.”

Being still isn’t our strong suit in the twenty-first century. Yet, being still brings benefits we cannot secure by any other means. When we are still, we can remember that we are God’s. We find belonging in Him and no other. When we are still, we can look back over the altar assembled in our heart and survey the rocks of remembrance we’ve laid along our journey. We can consider how He has watched over us, provided for and protected us. It’s only when we are still that we can hear the song of His love faintly playing throughout our existence. And if we are still enough, we might even be able to sing it back to Him.

There is peace in stillness and there is power in stillness. But we’ve got to quiet the galloping of our hearts to tap into it; precious and sweet like the maple sap that flows slowly if only we’ll wait. Patient. Expectant.

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14)

Lord, let us take advantage of today and the stillness of the world outside our window. Let us still our insides as we wait on You. You are worth it, worth everything. The strength and power and love we find in Your presence is worth every minute we spend waiting. It is an honor to wait on You. Amen.