It could be that you are going through a period with a lot of storm, uncertainty, pain, shame, disappointments and disgrace. Maybe you are wondering where is your God and at a point of desperation and calling it a quit. I want to give you a secret ‘Breathe and be Still, this too shall pass’
There was this day that I was driving from Nakuru to Nairobi at night and somewhere at a bushy area the car displayed the engine check light then within less than 5 minutes the car stopped just at the middle of the road. It was dark, raining and all vehicles were moving at a high speed so no one dared to stop. I called all the mechanics I had and they gave solutions like check fuel level, oil, water, coolant etc but all were okay. We tried push the car at the side ways and I told the guys to be still. I brought in a topic of not worrying yourself to death when in a fix but to put your trust in God. As we continued sharing and laughing, I tried to ignite the engine and to our surprise the engine was okay and the light not appearing. We drove the next 90 kilometers without encountering that problem and weeks later the problem never recurred. We chose to breathe and be still.
Modern times are turbulent and uncertain. We are facing a variety of challenges and feel pulled in many different directions. Our minds entertain various scenarios, and not knowing how it will play out, it is scary to us. We often expect the end of a day and the beginning of a new one will magically bring a change of circumstances. The struggles continue however, and it doesn’t appear to be an end in sight.
We are afraid of our ability to earn a steady income and provide food and basic needs for our families. We are concerned about our jobs which we fear losing anytime and our businesses which are always giving us warning signs, we fear getting sick and always fearing receiving bad news from friends and families due to a lot of incidents and deaths happening around. We feel isolated and disconnected from other people; we can’t hug, greet, fellowship or socialize as freely as we used to do years ago.
Today, more than ever I am practicing “Breathe and be still, this shall pass.” I remind myself that nothing lasts forever. The more fear we create, the more resistance there is, and that which we are resisting seems to linger longer and longer. Remind yourself “Breathe and be still. All is well inside my heart.”
What happens in the outer world comes and goes, and it’s often not within our control. However, what happens in our inner world IS in our control, and it’s the only constant we have in a rapidly ever-changing world. This is a choice that we all have and is one of our greatest gifts.
I work diligently in my inner world, and it’s a challenge because it’s constantly bombarded by the outer world; the world we live in. To focus on what is wrong in the world and be angry or upset about it doesn’t bring solutions; it creates stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. Instead, if I create a peaceful state inside myself, I will be gently guided on how to contribute to the outside world. And if each one of us could take care of our inner world and help those around us to get to that place, our world would be a different place, more peaceful, and safer. I feel my life’s purpose is to contribute to make this world a better place, and I know that most people feel the same way. When we make a difference in other people’s lives, we feel deep joy inside our heart. We can do that by making our hearts peaceful and settled.
“Be Still and Know that I Am God” is a wonderful encouragement to stay grounded and connected to something higher that will guide us through the challenging times we live in today. Guidance will unfold from the space of our hearts. We can hear our hearts when our mind is quiet. Challenges create a lot of noise, mind chatter and becoming skilled in quieting our mind is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and others.
Some changes look negative on the surface, but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge. I want to remind you to be still and wait for the unfolding of the guidance that will come from within. In my stillness, I can hear the guidance of what is emerging. Breathe and be still, this too shall pass.
May you find peace and joy in the midst of turbulence and uncertainty.