Be Still and Know--Day 106 Through the Bible

                              It's a blessing to live in the Appalachian mountains where trees are everywhere.
                                                    Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to a tiny seed that is sown and
                                                        yet produces a large tree where birds can nest in its branches.  

God has a beautiful purpose and plan underway.  Jesus likened the kingdom of God to "a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches" (Luke 13).  How this world needs a nesting place!  We all need the security of God's tremendous love although our personal circumstances differ. 

Each daily scripture reading is filled with much food for meditation; hopefully, we come away with at least one verse or passage that has special meaning--a special connection for us.  In the past week, my life has taken on the form of a trial.  Last night, I could not sleep and wrestled with an "alligator" of fear that tried to overpower me and roll me to the depths of despair.  The Holy Spirit urged me to get out of bed and into the Word, which I finally did.  I read the scriptures for today.

God gave me exactly what I needed to hear and I realized I am not to struggle in fear, but to rest in Him.  God is there to carry our burdens, however, I can already see that my human nature is going to resist giving them over. I found comfort in the verses that said God gave them rest all around, not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken.  I know this is true for me also.  One of the passages that was especially meaningful is Dr. Stanley's reference to Isaiah 30:15: "in rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength".  He stops there, but the next verse really got my attention--"But you would not, And you said, 'No, for we will flee on horses".  I wanted to flee last night, to break free of this trial and just run.  Yet that is not what God says to do.  The verse that gave me God's direction and set me on the path of peace was Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God".

I returned to bed and immediately fell asleep.  I'm so thankful for God's word, for His Holy Spirit, and for the fact that His Word is truth.  Another passage came to mind as I drifted off to sleep, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me" (Psalm 23).  I haven't been given a poor prognosis--I'm waiting to see a specialist, yet my human nature is pushing the bleakest scenario imaginable.  But God is already leading me--He led me to His Word. He led me to "be still" and rest in Him.  I'm glad I'm involved in this structured Bible Study. I don't have to debate what to read today--it's laid out for me and I already have a good foundation to continue to build on.

I love the analogy of the flourishing tree and the kingdom of God!  Regardless of what happens to us in this life, God has this beautiful purpose and plan going so that we can have eternal life and dwell with Him for eternity.  Pray that you and I, as well as others we know in the midst of a trial will be able to "Be still, and know that (He) is God"!