“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in all the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
When I feel like I’m constantly reacting to life – when I’m harried, overwhelmed, and increasingly frustrated – I know it’s time to stop and seek refuge. While there’s value in staying in your lane – focusing on your goals and purpose – sometimes staying focused is not enough to maintain simplicity and ward off overwhelm and overload.
When focus is not enough to keep me motivated and distraction seems to be increasing, I’ve learned to stop, move aside, and find a safe place to discover restoration and healing. I step out of the flow of traffic where efficient movement toward a destination is the goal, and I retreat into quiet solitude.
In that quiet solitude, which can take some time to discover and settle into, rediscovery happens. It begins with stillness and with acknowledging that God is who he says he is regardless of my feelings, emotions, and perceptions. It continues with an expressed desire for his glory above all.
Stillness and knowing become my status in the space outside of traffic. They become my refocus points as I simply wait. Sometimes, I need to dwell in this place of refuge and restoration indefinitely until traffic slows a bit.
