Be Still by Greg Mattson

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10

Is anxiety or worry a proper response to this world’s problems? I ask this question because it seems I am seeing more and more people in the office who present with physical ailments that are really secondary to stress or anxiety. GI complaints, insomnia, fatigue, depression, high blood pressure and heart disease many times can be directly related to stress in one’s life. Today the knee jerk reaction is to take prescription medications or to self-medicate with alcohol, overeating, excess spending or drugs. None of these actually get to the root of the cause.

As we continue to move towards a Presidential election, we will be bombarded with negative campaign ads directed at each individual candidate. We will have direct access to their so called closets with all the skeletons. I am personally thankful that I don’t have to worry about that because Christ has removed my closet which was really a warehouse. It’s going to be getting really ugly with more mudslinging than we have ever seen. It will be easy to become either numb or become more anxious about the future or our country. I have already heard people say they are leaving this country if a certain candidate wins.

On the foreign front we hear news daily about ISIS, illegal immigration issues, global warming, building a wall, etc. Then we can add the natural disasters like hurricanes, tornados, wild fires, droughts and earth quakes. Scientist are saying that we are getting closer to a large earthquake involving the San Andreas Fault which could be the largest earthquake in our history.

On the personal front we are confronted with loss of jobs, divorce, debt, family drama, loss of a loved one, and deteriorating health. Then what is a person to do when faced with all of the above. Worry?

If one looks at all of this, it is easy to see why people are worried, concerned or anxious … unless you are a follower of Christ. Psalms 46:10 is one of my favorite verses. It reminds us to “Be still”, meaning stop what you are doing including worry and anxiety. In this hectic world it is clear that we need to take time out to contemplate whom we believe is in charge. Is it our government, ourselves or the Creator of all things? Jesus himself as God took on human form and walked this earth facing the same trials as we will see soon in Mark as he now goes out into the wilderness after his baptism to face temptation.