The Fight To "Be Still"

Parenthood can be a roller coaster. And not a kid’s ride; I mean the Top Thrill Dragster throwing you down a vertical slope every few seconds. For that matter, it similarly adds the strain of a three hour wait in line. It's late nights of tears and worry. It's celebrating the little victories and accomplishing hard things. It has the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and everything in between.

In Psalm 46, we are reminded that our refuge, strength, and help are all found in one unshaking, ever-present, mighty Lord. The author reminds us of the Lord's power, His goodness, and His faithfulness. "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging...Be still and know that I am God." 

Motherhood certainly can feel like living right on a faultline as the things (and people) you’re responsible for are crumbling around you. But, what does this Psalm tell us to do in the midst of the chaos in our lives? Be still.

Be still? Um, excuse me? Clearly whoever wrote this wasn't a mother—there isn't much time in my day to "be still." I have kids to keep alive, appointments to get to on time, lost socks to dig out of my couch (three so far today), friendships that need growing (sorry I forgot to text you back!), trying to carve out time for basic needs (when is the last time I showered?), and keeping a full-time job so I can keep a roof over my kids' heads and food in their bellies. And there’s always some sort of verb my kids need me to be doing—making, cleaning, teaching, sharing, getting, giving. 

But oh, how I want to see their lives changed by Jesus more than anything—more than my desire to see them do well in school, to be healed of any sickness, or to just be good humans and not fight with each other all. day. long. I, however, can’t do that redeeming. When it comes to our children’s salvation, it isn’t something we can do. It is the Father who gives the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus on the cross and the Holy Spirit who moves in our children’s hearts. I can’t climb onto the cross for them. Only Jesus can. 

It is over this issue that I find the greatest need to apply the words of this Psalm, and naturally this means prayer; to be still and pray, wait and seek Him. And of course, that is something we must do. But this Psalm encourages us to do more than just pray. 

The words are not merely “Be still,” but, “Be still and know that I am God.” Prayer is an act of trust,, but it is a trust founded on truth. It is not to be still and hope, or to be still and do nothing, or be still and give up, but be still and know. Knowing God is done by knowing the word of God. 

And at this intersection of prayer and Scripture that I believe we best can be still and know that He is God. We pray scripture that speaks of His goodness, His faithfulness, and His promises. Doing so has radically transformed my prayer life. 

For me, praying scripture looks like waking up early, sitting in the hallway outside their rooms, and reading specific Bible passages. Sometimes it looks being unable to fall back to sleep after waking up at 4:30am to change a diaper or give a bottle, and lying there thanking God for choosing me to be their mother, repenting for my selfishness, praying my sins aren’t a stumbling block for them, and asking Him for guidance on leading them to Him by sowing seeds of truth in their lives. Sometimes it looks like reading passages of scripture out loud at dinner while we're sitting at the table. Sometimes it’s writing down my prayer because, while some things are too painful to say out loud, we can be confident that all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose, and leaving that with the Lord. 

This is no novelty, and shouldn’t be unusual for Christians. If you read through the prayers of the Bible, you’ll find how Scriptural prayers are full of other Scriptures. Our prayers have a foundation, and it is one built on something far more solid than our desires and emotions. If you haven’t prayed scripture before then it’s time to start.

What does this practically look like? Here are my two suggestions, particularly as it pertains to kids:

1. Read over the passage a couple of times, so you are familiar with its cadence, its rhythm, its message. Then, you can add your children’s names right into the passage:

“God, you chose [kid’s name] in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in your sight. In love, you predestined [kid’s name] for adoption to your sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with your pleasure and will—to the praise of your glorious grace, which you have freely given [kid’s name]…”

2. Use the passage as a guide, walking through its verses and pouring out your heart out to God:

“Lord, with everything inside me, I want you to have included [kid’s name] in your chosen people, whom you set apart before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in your sight. I beg that you have predestined her for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. I ask that you give [kid’s name] redemption from her sins through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of her sins, in accordance with the riches of your grace that you lavished on her…”

May your prayers be full of the word of God, and as you fight through the rollercoaster of childrearing, as well as all the rest of life, when you find all the things you cannot do, which are many, that you would be still and know that He is God.