The Power of Stillness: Slowing Down, Trusting, and Healing

Were we really meant to rush with abandon toward some earthly hilltop finish line?  Or was God telling us something in those whispers of “be still”, that all along, it was necessary to slow down, trust and heal”. ~ Morgan Harper Nichols

Fifteen years ago, I started a correspondence that continues to this day (though now we sometimes have in-person visits, too).  The verse that started our connections was Psalm 46:10~ Be still and know that I am God.  This phrase still comes up often in our conversations.  Therefore, when I read the above quote, I wanted to explore it further.

Slow down

Carl Honore says that “the great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the tranquility to make meaningful connections -with people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our bodies and minds.”   Corrie ten Boom once said that if the devil cannot make you sin, he will make you busy.  Busyness separates us from so many things that can enrich our lives.  Busyness separates us from God and others.

Psalm 23:2,3 tells us that to refresh our souls, the Lord, our Shepherd “makes us lie down in green pastures, He leads us beside quiet waters.”  We need time to re-focus, to spend quality time with others, to be still and know that He is God.  In the stillness, in the quiet, He is there.  

It was a very busy time when I first had my own home after my divorce. I had two children at home and was working as many nursing shifts as I could. I will always be thankful that we had a dog that needed to be taken for walks. It was my chance to get away from the busyness at home and get out into nature. Later, I made the choice to take time to read a book one morning a week. Mini-escapes can be important.

Trust

Long ago, when the Israelites were nearing the Red Sea, the Egyptians were pursuing them.  They felt trapped and afraid and wished they had stayed in Egypt.  They were told “The Lord Himself will fight for you.  Just stay calm. (Exodus 14:14 NLT).  Not only did God part the waters of the seas so the Israelites could walk through on dry land, He also drowned the enemy that was pursuing them.  Be still, the Lord will fight for you.

In another situation, David was being hunted by his enemies.  He had to wait patiently for the Lord to act, knowing that God “had his back.”  David wrote Psalm 37:7~ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”  It can be hard to wait.  We feel like we have to DO SOMETHING!  Learning to trust God in small situations makes it easier to trust Him on the big things, too.

Staying calm in a tough situation isn’t easy for me. However, when I worked as a nurse, I had to be sure that my anxiety wasn’t transmitted to my patients. Pause, take a deep breath and do the most important thing first.

Heal

Mary Beth Eiler wrote Stillness leads to clarity as we uncover what was holding us back and how to move forward. Stillness replenishes us and creates space to hear our own thoughts. Stillness is the mediator between what we feel and our ability to express it. Stillness is where we grow quiet enough to hear God’s voice and remember we are Beloved.

To truly begin to walk toward healing, we must willingly engage in the practice of stillness as we come to terms with the reality of our present.

Many changes happen in our bodies when we calm ourselves. These changes are healthier for our hearts and our minds. 

When I was diagnosed with thyroid disease, I had to learn to put more importance on my health. Diet, exercise, getting outdoors and spending time with family and friends all became important.

Final words

I am retired now and taking time for myself can be a challenge. I think “I’m not busy” or “I don’t have a lot to do” and fritter away too much of my time. It doesn’t feel good to have days when I feel like I’ve accomplished “nothing”.

I am becoming aware of the importance of having some routines in my life. Days that I plan to accomplish household tasks, set time apart to volunteer, make more effort to connect with family and friends and getting exercise consistently. When I have scheduled things to do, I feel like I am taking “me” time when I do something for myself. I am thankful that my days are starting to have some rhythm. When life feels eheavy and hard, I know I need to look to the Master,

And Jesus said: “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.