He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” NIV
NASB 1995
OR
“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
If you know anything about the Bible, you know it’s been translated multiple times from multiple languages. Above are two translations of the same Bible verse – Psalm 10:6. Usually I only see the first part on the inspirational posters, and that’s the part I want to talk about today.
Up until late 2019, I had only ever been exposed to, “Be still and know that I am God.”
It’s a great translation. Unless you’re like me and have no idea what it means to “be still”. I knew it was in reference to being at peace, but for someone whose mind never seems to shut up, it’s difficult to ‘be still’ and be at peace.
I went to a women’s conference in the fall of 2019 and the speaker put the New American Standard Bible version on the screen. “Cease striving and know that I am God.”
It was as if my eyes had been opened for the very first time.
I stared at the words.
And then I started bawling.
Whether or not you can successfully ‘be still’, I want you to know that you can cease striving.
We all try so hard to meet other people’s expectations. We strive to be better every moment. We work to achieve others’ goals, even for ourself when it might not be something we have any interest in.
Cease. Striving.
Look at your life. Are you where God wants you to be? Are you who God has called you to be?
If you have a relationship with God, the only thing He wants you to do is look more like Him. Yes, I said ‘only’ as if it’s easy. It isn’t… but if you are actively working to align your heart with His, you’ll be where He wants you to be and you’ll be who He has called you to be.
I fall off this thought process a lot. It’s difficult to be only who God wants me to be when the world holds so many other standards for me. I should have the job they expect and in the field they expect. I should have x amount of money and shouldn’t be single. I should read only these books and watch those movies. I should. I should. I should.
I get so anxious and depressed when I try to meet other people’s expectations. I have no peace in my life when I strive to live the life the world throws in my face.
But when I cease striving? When I remember who God is and what He asks me to do?
Those are the moments when I find real peace.
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for not holding me to the world’s standards. Please help me to remember the love you hold for me. Help me to slow down and to stop striving to be something I’m not. Help me to fully love who You have called me to be. Amen.
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