Look!

Everyone look! Come and see the breathtaking wonders of our God. For He brings both ruin and revival. He’s the one who makes conflicts end throughout the earth, breaking and burning every weapon of war.  Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth. Here He stands! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob fights for us! Pause in His presence! Psalms 46:8-11 TPT

Whoa. PAUSE IN HIS PRESENCE. God isn't just telling us to be still and rest, He is demanding we cease and rely on Him. 

Life is different now, the world is deep into a global pandemic, the past several months have redefined anything we knew prior, and the next several months will usher in more changes... we are all learning in a era of turmoil, across our country, and across hundreds of other nations. We are being told to social-distance when out in public, we are under government health orders to not visit with anyone outside of our immediate resident household, and gathering together in person with our church families has paused. 

I’m certain there would be less anxiety if we took our eyes of our own problems and leaned in to hear the quiet, steady urgings of Holy Spirit and His prompting to have us offer prayer to those around us. It’s easy to focus on so many other things in our immediate circumference when sifting through a pile of to do lists but let’s take a deep breath, being aware of God’s hurting people that we pass by or interact with while carrying out our work day or making a quick trip to the grocery store. It will make all the difference in our day and theirs, these simple interactions that are blessings. 

Maybe a piece in our present-day worry is that we are more aware of the general suffering of the human race than ever before. Our smartphones link us to news apps that keep us up to date on major occurrences (true and false) around the world, pouring a steady stream of human suffering into our consciousness.  But, pause, breath, clear let’s turn off the media roar.  With Holy Spirit walking beside us in this pulsating, seething world of restless unhappiness we will find the opportunity to rediscover the joy of abiding with Jesus, He will pour His contentment into us when we make room for Him.