Be Still and Know…
By Kelley Hinson
Psalm 46:5
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day
This verse has become not only a staple pocket verse but my life verse. It has a story, a meaning, and a place in my life…. and on my arm where it sits to remind me where I was, and where I am because of the grace of God. Let’s talk about what this verse implies. We all know the Psalms are for quiet reflection, prayer, and sharing in the writer’s joy, heartbreak, anger, and pain. All of them express a certain emotion. Joy of God’s presence in their life, heartbreak over some circumstance that has them bound to misery, confusion, and pain over some “thing” that is bigger than they are. What they all have in common is an undeniable understanding of who is in control of it all. Praise is part of every last one of them. Some begin and end with it and some are scattered all the way through it. Some struggle with it but never do they fail to acknowledge God’s sovereignty. So what does this have to do with anything? It has everything to do with everything. God is in control even when circumstances are out of yours. He is the constant in a world full of the unknown. So, what does this verse mean?
God is within her; she will not fall:
Biblically, in the Old Testament, according to the majority of scholars, “Her” & “She” are metaphors for “Zion” the city of God, or His people in general. Today it covers every last man, woman, and child that loves and obeys God and puts their belief and faith in Christ. We are where He dwells and where His presence (The Holy Spirit) rests. He is within me AND you. He is our source of strength, stability, and protection against the enemies attempts to tear down our defenses. He fortifies us. “she will not fall”…meaning nothing the enemy does can destroy us as long as we have God at the center. Other versions add to this, “she shall not be moved…cannot be destroyed…she will not be toppled…”. You get the point.
God will help her at break of day:
This is what God offers us in His perfect timing, not necessarily our own. I read somewhere , a metaphorical comparison of how the dawn brings light and relief after darkness. He will deliever us at the exact time we need Him the most. Never late, never to early. The things we struggle through are what makes us who we are in Christ. It’s sharing in the suffering that He went through for us so we could live free from our sin and shame. Free from worry about tomorrow. Free from the anxiety of handling things that are well out of our control. Trust, assurance, and acknowledgment of who God is in character, power, and glory. We are not alone in the struggle. God is our refuge and stength. When life gets a bit rough and my heart is being pulled in a thousand different directions, I look to this verse and many others like it. Just down from this verse in Psalm 46, there is another well known verse that reminds us what to do in these times, . “Be still, and know that I am God…”
