Worried? Just Be.
Stressed? Just Be.
Anxious? Just Be.
Afraid? Just Be.
“Just be” is a motto that my college roommate and I developed. It comes from Psalm 46:10-11 which says,
“Be still and know that I am God…The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (NIV)
Whenever either of us was feeling stressed or overwhelmed or scared or anxious, we would just say this simple phrase, “Just Be”. It reminded us to pause, close our eyes, take a deep breath and remember the sovereignty of our God. The God that never leaves us or forsakes us. The God who loves us beyond our wildest imaginations. The God who more than sustains us; who blesses us to the point of overflowing.
I regularly need this reminder because I try to take control of my own life and circumstances. I believe that I can manage on my own. I believe if I just work a little harder, or do a little more, I will be okay. “Pull myself up by my bootstraps” tends to be my default philosophy.
However, to “just be” is a philosophy of surrender. We are called to let go, abandon our own strength, relax and sink down into the powerful embrace of our Father. Too often, however, “surrender” is an abstract concept that we love to talk about in theory, but struggle to put into practice.
All too often, I foolishly expect an attitude of surrender to spontaneously occur. Yet, I know that my true nature is to be prideful, to think I can make it on my own. But just like most other things in life, an attitude of surrender, the ability to “just be”, is a choice. Sometimes this godly attitude will fall into place; sometimes this attitude will be a struggle.
Imagining what it means to “just be”, I envision the world around me stopping for a moment. I picture myself standing in the presence of the Almighty. The world resumes, rushing past me, but I am still standing there and He is still there with me. I cannot hear anything else except Him whispering His promises: I am with you. I am in control. I am your Protector and Provider. I go before you and I am your rear-guard.
Beyond my imagination, how can this philosophy of “just be” become reality, a way of life? I think we have to get back to the basics. Prayer. Quiet time. Studying the Word. By making these disciplines part of our daily lives, we will know His voice more intimately. In the times when our world is spinning out of control and we have gotten in over our heads, we will recognize and hear His voice more clearly. We will be able to hear Him whisper, “Be still and know that I am God”.
What is the first step you need to take to live a life of surrender? What do you need to do to “just be”?