Be Still…

Paul Bishop

MA, LPC, LPC/S

5/26/2025

When the Psalmist (inspired by God) said, “…be still and know that I am God,” the statement has two important parts. Take time to be still and be sure you seek to know God in your stillness. By implication, it’s hard to know God in busyness, while distracted, and while your cortisol levels are elevated. This verse gives us more than a recommendation, but a command: be still!

Take time to breathe. Let your body recharge so your mind and spirit can be renewed. Being still means letting your mind rest as well. To be still, I release my worries to the God I’m trying to know and stop the constant flow of negative information into my brain. This may require taking a break from too much news or interacting with individuals who focus there.

Doing nothing is not necessarily being still, however, and sometimes you can be doing nothing and still have a racing mind and body that cannot relax. To “be still,” you may need to move your body and refocus your mind. Give yourself an outlet for the built-up stress. Take a walk. Consider your blessings. Focus on nature. Meditate on scripture. Being still will only get you so far; seek to know God in the stillness. Another promise gives us the key to peace: Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” In a busy world, let’s take time to be still and know God in that stillness.