It Takes Courage to Be Still

I’ve been watching a lot of action movies lately–adrenaline rushing, heart pounding, will they make it!? The main character, usually a fugitive, is always running, jumping, flying. Doing whatever it takes to make it out alive.

Thankfully, most of us aren’t in situations that require fake identities and epic car chases. But we often associate bravery with diving head over heals into situations and never catching a breath. How often do these action heroes stop for a bite to eat, a nap, or even a bathroom break?

While unnecessary for the script, taking time to pause and reflect are essential for us to live fully into our purposes.

Sometimes, being willing to be silent and still takes more courage than rushing through life. It means feeling uncomfortable emotions, dealing with difficult thoughts, and reflecting on how to grow.

Being still requires being honest. You don’t have anything distracting you from what you know to be true.

These truths can sound like: “I am a kind person, but today I hurt someone”, or “Something I said was uncharacteristic for me and didn’t make someone feel loved”. They can even be: “I am human, which means I make mistakes”, or “This person isn’t healthy for me and I need to step back”.

These truths can also sound like: “I am dearly loved by God”, “I am His treasured creation”, and “No matter what, I will always have value”.

Truths can be wrapped up in lies that tell us that we aren’t good enough because we made a mistake or we let someone down. We realize that these words are harmful, and then we lose sight of what even is the truth. The truth is that we make mistakes and we aren’t perfect–we need to own that and apologize. But we are not defined by our mistakes. We are defined by God, who calls us His masterpieces.

Today, I encourage you to take a moment to be still. No music, no other people, no screens. Just sitting in silence and wading through your thoughts until the truth rings out.

Perhaps there is a person you need to talk to who will help make things right. Perhaps you need a self-care day and a reminder that you are worthy of it. Perhaps it’s just a simple moment to thank God for the gift of life.

Embrace the discomfort of stillness and remember that the more you cherish quiet rather than avoid it, the easier it will be to rest in God’s presence.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 4:38-40