What kind of families should we be at a time like ours? Nations are in uproar. People are falling away from the faith. Families are being split. The whole world is being shaken in every way. I have often read Psalm 46:10 and taken momentary comfort from its truth:
"Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10, NASB1995
Could it be that this promise is not just for our moments, but also for our days and our years; for our very lifestyle? What implications could this have on our families, marriages and homes? When I read it this week, I realized it depicts more than just an immediate or momentary consolation for the weary and overwhelmed. It also spells out a new way of living, consistent with the rest of biblical teaching.
"Cease striving and know". It reminds me of Jesus' call to put off a heavy yoke and take on an easy one:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30, NIV
Jesus' call to us is to a new way of living. Keeping in step with his Holy Spirit. Just like David in Psalm 23: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." It is us tuning into a different wavelength. God is calling us to "walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). God is giving us permission to not only stop striving our whole lives through, but also to start living under his new yoke forever and ever.
Eternal life is to know Christ Jesus (John 17:3). So our call is not just to stop being worried. We are able to prevent living under worry, anxiety and stress precisely by knowing God. Walk with him. Pursue him. Allow him to pursue you. God calls us to give worry a "no" by giving him our "yes".
What does this look like for us as households and families? Pray together. Speak truth to one another. Read the Bible together. Let Christ inform all that we do. Then we will truly stop striving and know him. We will in fact be still and know he is God.
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