The Importance of “Being Still” Before God

Stillness can feel counterintuitive in a world that glorifies hustle, urgency, and doing more. But in this episode, we explore what it really means to be still before God—and why it’s not about inactivity but about intentional trust. When the world shakes, when life feels loud, Psalm 46:10 invites us to pause and remember who's really in control. Learn how stillness can become your superpower in chaos.

📌 What You’ll Learn (Key Takeaways):

• Why “being still” isn’t passive but a powerful act of trust

• What Psalm 46 reveals about God’s strength and presence

• The difference between helping and trying to fix everything

• Practical ways to create moments of stillness in daily life

• How knowing God more deeply makes it easier to rest in Him

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💬 Join the Conversation:
What does being still before God look like in your life right now? How have you seen Him show up in the quiet moments? Share your thoughts using #StillBeforeGod and tag @LifeaudioNetwork.

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Full Transcript Below:

The Importance of “Being Still” Before God

By Sarah Frazer

Bible Reading:

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

Devotional

Be still! Stop moving! The wiggling toddler had a hard time keeping her body from sliding out of the pew into the floor. The pastor’s voice echoed from the pulpit, but it was hard to concentrate because of the ball of energy next to me. Five kids and several years later, I think back on those times when I had my children in church before they could sit still. 

It took time, patience, consistency, and maybe a few hundred packs of fruit snacks, but eventually they learned to be still in church. Now, I look down the pew and see all of my sweet children all but grown, sitting quietly, a few even taking notes. 

In front of me is a mom of a toddler and as she whispers into his ear and offers a sucker and some coloring pages, I’m reminded that being still is hard for a toddler. But then, it is hard for us as adults to sometimes be still as well. 

In Psalm 46 we read some startling and unnerving circumstances surrounding the author. Phrases like “waters roar…mountains shake…nations rage…” certainly relate to the times we are in today. I don’t know about you, but when things are chaotic, I don’t want to just stand there - I want to do something. 

Every time my children would fight, I would jump in to intervene. If I saw a need at church, I was the first to put my name on the list to help. If someone was in a crisis, I would lay awake trying to think of ways to serve them. 

Psalm 46 reminds me that it isn’t my job to fix everything, but also, it is important that I don’t forget who is ultimately in charge.  There are times we should step in and help, or rush to fix a crisis. God has called us to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus, love one another, and bear each other’s burdens. 

Being still before God is more than just not acting, it is recognizing and resting in who God is. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know…” Knowing is remembering and learning. What do you know about God? What do you remember God doing in the past? In the first part of the psalm we see the author remembering and calling out truth about God. God is our refuge, strength, and help. God has never stopped being on the throne, even if our world feels out of control and unsettling. 

Practically speaking, what does this look like to “be still” before God? I think it means we spend time in prayer and reading His Word. Learning and studying about God helps us to know and trust Him. The more we know about God the easier it is to trust Him. The more we pray and read God’s Word the more our hearts learn how to be still before God. 

The psalmist has one phrase in this chapter that highlights a beautiful truth about God. He repeats this phrase, so we know it is a key to the theme of the chapter. The phrase is found in verse seven and verse ten.  “The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” 

The last word, “Selah” means to pause and reflect, again a reminder that this verse is so important! How is the author of Psalm 46 able to “be still” before God? He recognizes that God is both personal and powerful. 

Look at the words in Psalm 46:7 and 10. God is described as a “Lord of Hosts” and “the God of Jacob.” The first description of God reveals a powerful God who is able to control and dispatch an army of angels. The second is a personal God of a man who really lived - Jacob! 

God is both a refuge and He is with us. The first action shows God’s strength while the other a declaration of God’s intimacy with us. As we ponder how God is in control and very personal at the same time our hearts can know true rest.  

As we meditate on God’s word in both prayer and reading His word, we will find so much comfort and peace. This is how we rest our hearts and minds on God. This is the importance of being still before God. When we stop striving, working, and worrying, we are able to have peace. We can go to bed* knowing God has the ultimately power to keep us safe and He deeply loves and cares for us.

*(I was wondering if we could link to my podcast here: sarahefrazer.com/podcast)

Intersecting Faith & Life:

What keeps you awake at night? What do you have that lays heavy on your heart? How can you go to God in prayer and read His word in order to have peace today 

Further Reading:

Psalm 46

Romans 8

Hebrews 12:1-2

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