There is a verse from Psalm 46 that has been resonating with me and keeps repeating in my mind and heart. Verse 10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” In moments of adversity, I would do well to heed the message to be still.

The last few weeks have had a number of milestones and anniversaries that have taken on a different meaning. Since my father’s passing in October, there have been several of these occasions. Some of them I’ve been able to handle pretty well, others were more difficult. His birthday on June 25 was one of the more difficult ones.

The week before Father’s Day, I had been doing pretty well. I knew it was coming up, but didn’t think too much of it. It was after I played my postlude in church that one of the congregation came up and asked me about it being the first Father’s day without my father. It caused me some reflection, but didn’t seem overwhelming. In all honesty, there have been some sacred moments when it’s been quite clear that he wasn’t very far away.

In the week following Father’s Day, the verse from Psalm 46 entered my mind as did the hymn, “Be Still My Soul” (Hymns 1985 #124). I knew I was going to be playing that the following Sunday accompanying a duet so I didn’t think too much about it. A few days later, someone I know on Facebook had as their status, “Be still.” Once again the hymn came again to my mind as did the psalm.  Friday it seemed the very jaws of Hell were gunning for me. I had all kinds of anxiety, fear, and discouragement that at the time I couldn’t place.

In other times in my life, I might have given into temptation and done something I shouldn’t have. In the midst of the anxiety and discouragement though something happened that was different. I found a place in this noisy bustling city of quiet, and there I prayed. As I did so, I felt the anxiety and discouragement leave. And I realized the reason for the change was that I had decided to be still. And in that stillness, I found peace.

I think that the discouragement and anxiety on Friday were in part because of the particular anniversary. Evidently the adversary was also aware of that and up came a whole lot of things, some of which were related to the day, and others not so much. But once I found that place of quiet and stillness, I was able to reflect on how much love my earthly father has for me and I for him. I reflected also on our Heavenly Father’s plan. The realization that mortality is the end of the physical, but the spirit continues on forever. I will see him again and I’ll feel him hug me again.

Heavenly Father’s love and care for us is real and is something that in my heart I know.  If I can only remember the message of the Psalm to “Be still, and know that I am God.” His love and peace can be felt in that commandment, when we are still. In it is the assurance that he is all knowing about our needs, and that all things which are now mysterious and frightening will be made known in his time. With that thought in mind, I share the following in closing:

“Be Still, My Soul”
by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

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