Nougat 7

When life’s Lifing, what’s our default action? Do we jump into action, proving worth? For some of us, it’s cooking (or baking); others eat, some get abusive to loved ones and yet others turn to drink and drugs. Those are not the ones default responses though, there are some who turn to God. Consider today’s Holy Nougat, as the psalmist reminds us what to do

““Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Hopeful Stillness

You know, some of us are going around with our heads in the clouds, seemingly unbothered by the vagaries of life. And if it’s rooted in that precious peace found in Jesus, we’ll probably be find ourselves being drawn to those people. Ironically, naturally peaceful persons are not necessarily very popular, for many of us yield to worry in a pinch. Worry is not God’s ideal for us however, for God’s desire is that God is our Source in all circumstances.

Being still is not about a yoga pose, meditation (transcendental or otherwise), or mindfulness. It is about stepping away from the issues that may even be a distraction from our attention to God, and opting to be intentionally in God’s presence. In the Hebrew, be still transliterates as ‘rest’, something so elusive to many of us. And we have that acronym for rest – Rely on, Embrace, Seek sustenance, and Trust God – those all presuppose a relationship born of experience and expectation.

The other transliteration that moves me is the sense of ‘sinking in’, which to me suggests nestling in and by extension yielding to a parent figure … God. This then brings Jesus’ invitation that we come with our burdens to Him. That’s not the vulnerable baby Jesus, but the healing, resurrected Christ. What is it like for you, for me to sink into Jesus, knowing that He is God? Can you imagine the potential impact when others see us abandoning stress in favor of God’s grace and provision?

Advent invites us to remember that God intentionally became human so that we might have a ‘real’ person in Whom to rest. Advent invites commemoration of our God Who sees us, hears us and has chosen to be with us. Advent offers us hope in a Saviour, Who is not immune to our suffering, as He’s been this way before – He even faced temptation (see Hebrews 4:15). He understands and is willing to still our storms or ride the waves with us.

May this season be one of refreshing and grace for us all, as we lean into God’s Son, our Hope now and in the future.

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May all we seek be found in Christ