Knowing the Presence of God in the PsalmsSample

Sit Still and Be Quiet

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 37:7 (NIV84)

“Sit still and be quiet.” I can still hear my parents say these words to me. As a little boy of 5 and 6 years of age, being still and quiet was not my forte. I do not remember ever being still, patient, or quiet. In fact, my parents often referred to me as rambunctious. I had no idea what that long word meant, but apparently, I was the definition of the word.

It would take me years to learn the value of stillness and even longer to learn how to be quiet and wait patiently for the Lord to speak and respond. Eventually, I discovered there are precious gems of life-giving truths deeply buried within the treasure chest of divine stillness and patience.

Unfortunately, neither of these attributes is the default of the human soul. The idea and value of stillness and patience have become completely alien within our society. Fast food lines are frustrating when they are not. TV commercials need to be shorter. Two people standing in front of us purchasing groceries are two people too many. It is not difficult to understand why Christ-followers struggle to be still and wait patiently for him.

David is not writing this Psalm as he faces a calamity or from a recent experience of heartache. He wrote it after living many years (see verse 25) and is sharing what he has learned along the way. He learned the value of what it means to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him...”

Interestingly, he handcuffs the behaviors of stillness and patience to each other. He is teaching us there is a direct correlation between being still and waiting patiently. If we are spiritually rambunctious, we compromise our ability to wait patiently. In other words, the second step demands compliance with the first step. To be able to wait patiently for him requires a stillness before Him.

The Hebrew word David used for “still” means to stand still, be quiet, to cease all motion. In my imagination, I can hear David teaching this principle to a group of young people, saying, “When you are unsure of what to do, be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. He knows what you do not and will tell you at the appropriate time. When facing an uncertain future, be still before him and wait patiently for him. He is certain of your future and will guide you at the appropriate time.” I can see him gesturing to his audience, imploring them to find a place in their home to sit in stillness, seeking the presence of God. I can imagine him illustrating this behavior by sitting in a chair, bowing his head, closing his eyes, focusing his mind on the Lord, and being still.

When my parents told me to “sit and be still,” I did so out of obedience driven by the fear of the consequences of disobedience. But I was a whirlwind of activity internally. Waiting patiently was as foreign to me as being still. Waiting patiently for him means the heart and soul sit at rest with confidence in the Lord’s timing and sovereignty. It is an inward assurance that the Lord will respond to our needs. In the sacred moments of stillness and holy patience, we are better positioned to hear the whispers of His wisdom for our next steps.

It takes practice to calm your mind and choose to wait patiently for the Lord, especially when you feel the pressure of a decision that needs to be made. The practice of being still before the Lord allows us to slow down, to pause, to step away from the noise of options, choices, and the demand for immediate action.

Friend, I encourage you to find a place and time in your daily routine to sit in the stillness of God’s presence. It is a simple practice that takes practice to make simple. Sit down. Focus your thoughts upon Him and His Word. Ask the Lord to be present with you. Remain motionless and be quiet in His presence. If your mind wanders to the upcoming activities of the day, then do as my parents did to me. Say to your brain, “Sit down and be quiet!” Open God’s Word to Psalm 37 and read verses three through seven and verse thirty-four. Ask Him to help you develop this divine rhythm of stillness and patience. Direct your mind to stay within the guard rails of a conversation with the Lord. Take your time. Do not rush this conversation any more than you would rush a conversation with someone else. Breathe in His presence. Exhale your angst. Repeat this process as long as it takes to develop your relationship with Him.

As you develop this spiritual practice, I am confident you will be able to say what the Psalmist said at the end of this Psalm, “The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”

You will see it.