Psalm 46:10 tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.” What does this verse really mean? That’s exactly what you will learn in this message today.

I want to talk about Psalm 46:10, which is an invitation for us to trust God and know Him in the midst of life’s difficulties, chaos, and mess. So, let’s go there and immediately jump into our discussion. We read:

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

What does it mean to be still?

To be still means to stop. It means not to move. It means to be at rest. However, if you look into the context of Psalm 46, you’ll discover that this is not a simple command from God. There’s more to it than what we can easily understand.

Being Still in calamities and war

Reading the earlier verses, you’ll soon see that this Psalm talks about a time of great trouble and turmoil. In verses 2 to 3, it talks about natural calamities:

2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Yesterday, we felt a strong earthquake. We know how earthquakes can easily strike fear in the hearts of men. Earlier this month, we also experienced severe flooding. If those things made people afraid, how much more if they see the mountains carried in the midst of the sea, its waters roar, and the mountains shake? There’s no doubt that this talks about end-time prophecies that will shake this earth to its very core.

Can you just imagine if Mt. Everest is thrown into the sea? How about Mt. Fiji or any mountain in your country? That would surely be a frightening thought, right? Yet, God invites us to be still.

Aside from that, Psalm 46 also talks about conflicts and war. We read in verses 6 and 9:

6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted… 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

Going through personal struggles

Now, a lot of us aren’t experiencing massive natural calamities and tumultuous war right now, but I can confidently say that we are all going through personal problems in life.

Some of us have financial problems. We have a big debt to pay. Some of us are struggling to find a job. Some might have health problems. We feel pain in our joints, and our heart isn’t pumping blood effectively anymore. We are suffering from diabetes and hypertension, and we can’t see clearly anymore.

Some of us might be struggling with relationships. A person walked out of our life, a person didn’t reciprocate the love we offer, and our children are making poor choices in life. Our spouses aren’t faithful to us anymore.

Now, the list just goes on and on. However, in the midst of all these things brethren, the invitation of God is very clear — “Be still.”

God Invited the Israelites to be Still

In the time of the Israelites, there were times when they were at war with their neighboring nations. So, what are they going to do? Their neighbors are stronger than them. When that happens, it is tempting to rely on their military strength. It is tempting to make alliances, contracts, or covenants with their enemies. It is tempting for them to turn to pagan gods and simply abandon their faith because those are the most rational and logical things to do.

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Where do you put your trust?

In the same manner brethren, today, we might be tempted to put our trust in our material wealth. We might put our trust in the money we have in the bank. We might put our trust in the strength of our house. We might put our trust in the government. We might put our trust in other people. 

However, all those things will ultimately fail. Instead of panicking, fearing, and worrying, God invites us to be still.

This reminds me of the time when the Israelites were trapped in the Red Sea. The Egyptian army is just a few miles from them and sure destruction was about to fall on them.

What were the words of Moses? We read in Exodus 14:10: And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.

13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid…

I can just imagine these people telling Moses, “What? Are you kidding me, Moses? We are about to get slaughtered by these angry Egyptians. Our children will be killed. Some of us will return to Egypt and be slaves. Our women will be tortured. You’re telling us not to be afraid? Hello Moses, are you out of your mind?”

Moses could see them panicking, frantically looking for a way to escape. Many were crying and shouting. It was a chaotic scene. So Moses said what needs to be said:

“Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 

We know the rest of the story. If Yahweh is on our side, brethren, we don’t need to worry. We don’t need to fear. We don’t need to be anxious. Why? Because Yahweh is God.

Knowing God will help us to be still

In Psalm 46:10, the psalmist reminds us that Yahweh is in complete control. Notice, that in order for us to know that Yahweh is God, we must be still. What’s more interesting in this verse brethren is that we must be still because Yahweh is God. Did you see the powerful message here brethren? It’s like saying, God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

Be still, Yahweh is God. Yahweh is God, be still.

A world bent on always moving

However, in this world, brethren, we are constantly told to move, to be always busy, and to be always on the go. That’s why, every once in a while, I appreciate the time we spend in the mountains. The place is so peaceful. The only things you see moving are the swaying trees and grass and the peaceful clouds. Because there’s no internet, you are forced to take things slow.

In the city, that’s not what you see. I have lived a few years in Metro Manila. I wake up at 4AM, leave home at 5AM, and travel for 2-3 hours. Get home by 8 PM and repeat that cycle the next day. At that time, my boss would even tell me, don’t take a break on weekends. Those are the days when you’ll find more clients and close sales.

Sadly, that’s how most people live their lives now. In fact, in the eyes of the world, Sabbath keepers spend 1/7th of their lives in laziness.

That’s totally different from what we see in the Bible. We are actually the ones making our lives complicated when in fact, we can live this life simply. Satan knows that the more distracted we are, the less likely we spend time with God in prayer and Bible study. He doesn’t want us to stand still. Why? Because Satan knows that when we stand still, we will be closer to Yahweh.

Standing Still Moves Us Closer to God

You see, brethren, standing or being still means to listen to God. You can’t listen to God if you’re constantly on the move. Standing still means to be at peace. You can’t be at peace when you are constantly in panic mode. Standing still means to wait.

You can’t be patient when you’re always in a hurry. Standing still means to yield to God’s will. You can’t stand still if you want to do things your way. Standing still means trusting Yahweh with your life. 

Now, don’t commit the mistake of thinking that being still means doing nothing. That’s not the point of this verse. What it means is that you also do your part. It means that you do your best and let God do the rest. You do what you can do and simply surrender to God what you can’t handle or control. As they say, let go, and let God.

There are more lessons we can learn from Psalm 46, but for now, that’s just what I want to share with you today.

So, brethren, are you in a difficult situation? Why not choose to be still and then, let Yahweh be God in your life? You’ll soon see brethren, that Yahweh is truly God and He will be exalted in all the earth.

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