the lost art of being still

Need help recalling the lost art of being still? Here’s why it’s important, and steps toward cultivating stillness with God.

Growing up, I had to learn how to be still. 

My whole life, we had about a day-long drive between two different states to visit grandparents. And yes, this was before smartphones, tablets, and even minivans with TVs. (Kids today have it oh so easy.) I used to dread these long drives. But over the years I learned how to embrace the stillness of that time. 

These days, finding stillness can be rare.

If my kids aren’t calling my name (first name: Mama), it’s laundry, dishes, dinner to make, groceries to get, a podcast I want to listen to, a book I want to read, the news, social media, friends to check on, people to care for, a TV show to catch up on, a blog post to type, things to plan, phone calls to have.

Even at night, it’s hard to turn my brain off, detailing every to-do or worry. 

Is this how it’s supposed to be? Does God expect me to be constantly “on” and moving all the time?

And then I read Exodus 14:14 NIV: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Other versions say, “you need only to be silent” or “be quiet”. I also love the International Standard Version: “The Lord will fight for you while you keep still,” and the NET Bible: “The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still” (emphasis mine). 

Whichever translation you read, this is what Moses says to the Israelites as the whole Egyptian army is chasing them down. Talk about opposing forces. I like Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse:

“Stand still,” think not to save yourselves either by fighting or flying; wait God’s orders, and observe them. Compose yourselves, by confidence in God, into peaceful thoughts of the great salvation God is about to work for you. If God brings his people into straits, he will find a way to bring them out.

Somewhere along the way from his initial panic at God’s call, Moses learned the art of being still – that place of desperation that drove him to be near God and prompted steps of faith. He found the kind of peace that can view an approaching army and remain undeterred in the belief that the Lord was in control.

These days, we appear to have lost the art of stillness.

It seems wasteful and unnecessary in a culture that rewards accomplishment and speed. 

It feels impossible, when the responsibilities of life and the chaos of our days threaten to overwhelm. 

It feels like a cop-out – when we can feel the pressure to rely on ourselves and make things happen.

In the craziness and busy-ness, being still means quieting and calming our minds, and sometimes ceasing movement, too. Unlike my long drives from long ago, it’s a choice we make, and it’s not always an easy one.

By releasing our drive to “do right now,” we intentionally choose the faith and surrender to simply “be right now.” 

This gives us a chance to prepare ourselves for the steps God will require us to take, and to watch God work.

It’s choosing to depend on God, instead of opting to rely on self. It’s “being fully convinced” that God has the power to do what he promises us, like how Romans 4:21 describes Abraham’s faith.

And I’m convinced this is what Peter means in 1 Peter 3:4 when he tells the women of the church that God most values “the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” He’s not telling us to be super nice and keep our words to a minimum. He’s talking about a humble and steady character – a woman who finds stillness before God and confidence in him.

How do we learn or re-learn how to be still? By cultivating and practicing it with God in the everyday. He helps us build up strength to be able to face the obstacles of life.

Here are some tips to re-learn the lost art of being still:

1. Set a consistent time and place where you can be intentionally still with God. We see Jesus live out this practice in Mark 1:35. This might look different for everyone – five minutes or an hour; waking up at 5am or getting time before you go to bed. What matters most is the consistency.
2. Put away distractions. Set aside or get away from things that can pull your mind and heart away from God. That might be other people (whether in person, on the phone, or through email or text), social media, the news, the music, the to-do list, the calendar.
3. Prepare for stillness through prayer. Ask God to help you focus in on your time with him, and to help keep your mind from wandering. Invite him to refresh your perspective with his.
4. Pay special attention to your breathing. Our breathing allows oxygen to get through to our brain and sharpens our focus. It calms and quiets our bodies so we aren’t constantly in fight or flight mode. (For me, it helps to breathe in to a certain count, like 4 or 6, hold for the same count, and release for the same count a few times.)
5. Read God’s word and meditate on it. Take the time to read it, maybe a few different ways or in a few different translations. Think over the words. Take your time savoring it.

Then throughout the day, find pockets of stillness. Consider saying “breath prayers”; have a constant conversation going on with God; pause before you respond or act. 

The imperishable beauty of stillness is this: having a spirit of peace instead of turmoil.

This isn’t something that magically appears, as much as we want to just have faith when those defining moments come. When we constantly rely on God’s power, walking with him and adopting his perspective, he builds up a resilience within us that can face anything.

How about you?

Have you experienced the lost art of being still? What helps you cultivate it in your life?

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Photo Credit: 

1 – Nguyen Mei on Unsplash

2 – Nadine Rupprecht on Unsplash

3 – Christoffer Engström on Unsplash