Blaise Pascal once said: “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly alone in a room.”*

To be honest, it’s a bit simplistic. But there’s something to it. When we can’t calm down, zip our lips, sit quietly, and take time to reflect, we’re probably going to create more problems than we solve. 

If you’re the kind of person who underlines special verses in your Bible, you probably have Psalm 46:10 underlined: “Be still, and know that I am God…” It’s an invitation to be still—to cease and desist from frantic frazzlement and chasing our tails—because we can rest in the certain knowledge that God is in control.

In fact, that’s the point of the rest of the psalm. Mountains quake and waters roar. Nations rage and desolations abound. When the world feels like it’s falling apart it can feel like we’re falling apart too. But no, God is still God.

Is this something you need to hear? 

When you’re stressed—God is still God, and he is working.
When you’re worried about the future—God is still God, and he is working.
When you’re under attack—God is still God, and he is working.
When you feel like a failure—God is still God, and he is working.
When you’ve created problems that you can’t fix—God is still God, and he is working.
When people let you down—God is still God, and he is working. 
When you’ve let others down—God is still God, and he is working.

Be still.
Breathe.
God is God.
You are not.
He is working.
He is a Good Shepherd.
And you are his.

---

Notes:

–As quoted in: *Rolf Dobelli, The Art of Thinking Clearly (Harper Books, 2014), 130.

–The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on January 13, 2025.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.