The Seed of Hope

A gift for tomorrow

Be still and know that I am God

I’d been reciting this over and over in my mind last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It made no difference as to the time of day, or where I was, or what I may have been doing. It was just there.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

“Why is this so important? What am I missing that I’m supposed to be getting? God, are you trying to tell me something? I’m being as still as I can be and do the things that I’m supposed to be doing. Lord, if You’ll just show me what I’m missing here…”

Such was my “conversation” with God the first few days of last week. Eight, nine, ten times a day… Be still and know that I am God. I’d hear it in my head, and answer back with a question or statement every time. “God, I know that you put this in my mind for a reason. The problem is that I don’t know what it is. Can you give me a little clarity here? I’m being still.” Of course, I was having my conversations with God on the run. You see, I really don’t know how to keep still, or at least not for any length of time.

“How many times do I have to plant this in your thoughts, Maniscalco? I want you to be still. NOW.

I rolled out of bed last Thursday morning at 5:30 to get ready for a men’s Bible study/fellowship group that meets in our hair salon each week. The moment that my feet touched the floor I felt it: the Achilles Tendonitis in my right heel had decided to act up again, the third time that it had done so in the last six weeks. I got dressed and downed a couple of Tylenol on the way out the door, hoping, make that praying that this attack wouldn’t be as bad as the last one.

I was wrong.

By 6:30 I was limping. When I took my wife Jackie to lunch at noon I was hobbling. By the end of the day the pain was so intense that I could do little more than drag my foot in the direction that I was headed. An ice pack and several more Tylenol preceded a fitful night of sleep.

The next morning I was at our salon on crutches (again, for the third time in six weeks). Pride and being a “tough guy” had taken a back seat to the intense, incessant pain in my foot. By nine o’clock I had succumbed to the pain, and was headed back home for the remainder of the day.

Be still and know that I am God.

Once home, I climbed on our bed, propped my foot on a couple of pillows, and turned on the television. The channel was already set on one of the 24 hour news channels, and the news of the day was the tragic earthquake and following tsunami that had rocked Japan. I watched in disbelief as a wall of water rolled through northern Japan, engulfing farmlands, demolishing homes and buildings, and tossing cars and trucks around as if they were fifty-cent toys. Unbelievable. Unfathomable. Humbling.

Mercifully, the station broke away from the destruction in Japan. They wanted to give updates on the uprising in Libya, as well as the latest developments in Iraq. Sandwiched between it all were the most recent round of squabbles in Congress here in our own country.

“Be still and know that I am God” rang out in my mind yet again, in the midst of all the destruction and fighting that I was watching on T.V. This time I did something about it! I went to www.ask.com on my iPhone and typed in what I’d been “hearing” all week long, where I learned that God’s instruction to be still is found in Psalm 46. More curious than ever, I went to www.biblegateway.com and entered the NIV version of the  Psalm. I sat in stunned silence at I read the passage, all the while recalling the images that I’d just witnessed on the television.  

1 God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
   God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
   he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

~~~~~~~~

 8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
   the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
   to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
  I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”

Fairly impactful message, wouldn’t you say?

Look, I’m no pessimist. I don’t think that the end of the world is near, or that the sky is falling, or that we should be saying goodbye to all of our loved ones. But then again, I could be wrong. I’m just saying that God stopped me dead in my tracks and laid this on my heart to share with you this week, at a time when all of this stuff “just happened” to be going on in the world.

What you do with it is up to you. I’m just saying that perhaps, from time to time, we should all stop whatever it is that we may be doing to be still, if only for a moment, and know that He is God.

Please pray for the people in Japan, and in Libya, and in Haiti, and wherever there is hurt. Pray for the people in your own back yard. Pray for God to tend to the needs of people wherever they may be, that they will feel His presence. That they will know that He is God.

Just pray.

See you next week.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Linda wrote on 03/15/11 4:28 PM

WOW! I, too, have heard the same thing from God recently. "Be still and know that I am God". The world, with it's worries and concerns, my family, etc., continued to whirl around me, at times consuming me. And I began to experience health issues that I've never had before. Potentially serious ones. Doctors' orders - REST. Relax, be still. I was drawn to the same Scripture. It gave me comfort, even with everything goin on. Comfort because HE is in control. He alone rules the world and all therein. I needed that reminder. I needed that word of strength, of control. And I prayed. And I continue to pray.
Susan Hughes wrote on 03/16/11 2:23 AM

Sam here is confirmation of word from God through your message of 15/3/2011. According to you He spoke to you 7/8/9/th and I heard these same words from Him on 4th which led me to Psalm 46 and out of this flowed the poem of proclamation to God. Now in this time of turmoil right now here in Bahrain more than ever I am striving to be STILL and KNOW and I do KNOW that my/OUR God is in control. Amen! BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD (Psalm 46:10) - written by Susan Hughes 4.3.2011 Thank you Lord When we earnestly seek You You make a way Give opportunity Space to be with YOU. In this haven of comfort In these quiet moments Waiting Away from distraction I can WHOLLY sit in Your Presence. Meditate on Your word. Words lovingly given to me Earlier amidst my daily chores To fill me up To be prepared For the day ahead. You reward OBEDIENCE When we LISTEN to You Through the words of love Flowing up from the page Through our eyes Into our hearts that bubble up Gratefulness overflowing At the beauty in Your LOVE Your mercy is ever present That critical word OUT from us That bad thought IN us Washed away in an instant (Psalm 33:5) Through our knowledge Of Your forgiveness O Lord How would we survive Without this intimacy with You Lord? I shudder to think! Let us be Your banner of love, trust, unity A force to be reckoned with THROUGH You In our marriages Our church Our community THE NATIONS! In the s-t-i-l-l-n-e-s-s with You O Lord I want to KNOW You so much more! Amen! Psalm 33:6-11 Worship song playing in the car at the time greatly fitting to these words. I WANT TO KNOW YOU MORE - LYRICS In the secret, in the quiet place In the stillness You are there. In the secret, in the quiet hour I wait, Only for You,'cause I want to know You more; I want to know You, I want to hear Your voice I want to know You more. I want to touch You, I want to see Your face I want to know You more. I am reaching for the highest goal, then I might receive the prize. Pressing onward, pushing every hindrance aside, Out of my way, 'cause I want to know You more!!!!!!!! AMEN!!
CC wrote on 03/16/11 7:56 AM

That was awesome and so true
sharon hans wrote on 03/16/11 8:10 AM

Actually, this is astounding. He has been whispering this to me for a year...and my sisters. The greek word for "still" means to let go...or allow to fall. As I read HIS words in the psalms...Could it be He is asking us to let go of our way of thinking...and embrace HIS? We look at this earth quake as a disaster...and certainly because of the human suffering , it is. But , it is also an opportunity to see the mercy and love of our God! And to see it revealed in those who don't know Him. The earth is groaning for rebirth...for the new heaven and earth. We, the bride of Christ, MUST get ready for the wedding. He is coming soon. And we must help others get ready. Be still....and know that I am GOD... I am your bridegroom coming soon. Isn't it amazing that the Holy Spirit is preparing US for HIM....and we are ONE in our thoughts!!!
Susie Mc Sellers wrote on 03/16/11 12:53 PM

What a profound message that communicates such supernatural peace in such a moment of chaos in our world. Thank you for guiding this perspective of comfort and "stillness" which is such a gift. Refreshing post Sam....Love and Hugs
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