Be Still, and Know that I Am God

God communicates with each of us in small ways from our waking moments each and every day; in fact, God is communicating to us before that, through our dreams if we will listen.

God says things like, “Start small,” and “Don’t miss this little reminder I am reminding you about many times today—do something about it, now.”

One of my reminders of late has been, “Your pants are getting uncomfortable around your waist, Steve.” “Are you looking after the body I have given you?” I often respond, at this time of year, “It’s winter time; it’s time to sit and be lazy.”

All of this talk—this constant conversation with God—occurs almost unconsciously.

I can pretend that this conversation with God isn’t happening, as we all tend to do, but it won’t change my reality. My reality is my truth, and it does me no good at all to ignore it. I wake up with a certain sensation inside my stomach; it is not hunger—it is worse than hunger. My stomach stills feel full. Did I eat too much last night? Most of the time I don’t even get to ask such questions of myself. Most of the time such questions fly under the radar.

The still, small voice of God, in my everyday, is communicating to me through my mind—through my anxiety—through the things I am refusing to grapple with. A lot of these things are unconscious to me, most of the time, because I have repressed the still, small voice of God. This is what we do: repress God.

If I do nothing with these things, God will continue to communicate, but his voice will appear more silent and hardly audible at all.

I know that God has referred me to this quote, and it has many meanings:

“They who reach down into the depths of life where, in the stillness, the voice of God is heard, have the stabilizing power which carries them poised and serene through the hurricane of difficulties.”

—Spencer W. Kimball

One meaning it has in this context is really quite simple.

The depths of my life, at the mind level, are simple indeed. Cream is bad for me, whilst water is good. When I eat less I feel better. When I keep my mind free, as far as my responsibilities allow, I am more able to hear and appreciate the beauty in the still, small voice of God. When I exercise, or do some things, by activating my body, I feel a little better about myself.

The things of God are really so simple, but we miss them, most times, because our lives are so hurried and big with busyness.

That ancient phrase—“Be still, and know that I am God”—resounds within us. Can we hear it, and, do we listen? It is about peace; but so much more than peace. God is not only seeking to communicate with us, he does communicate with us—but mostly in the tiniest of ways. If we master the art of listening we master our lives. It is up to us. Each day, each moment, is a fresh opportunity.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.