There is an appointed time for everything.
And there is a time for every event under heaven —
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
~ Ecclesiastes 3.1-8

When Adonai is working, to my human eye and my flawed perceptions, it can appear as chaos. And I am very much allergic to chaos, as well as the drama that usually follows. When a string of events are happening that are beyond my ability to control, emotions can swirl about settling a dread upon me, wearying me, exhausting me.

My flesh screams for me to right the situations; my spirit tells me to be still.
Being still does not immediately satisfy. Being still feels like a luxury not to be afforded.

Yesterday, I sat in the sukkah, watched the storms blow in. I watched the light shift through the swaying branches and the leaves drift and the clouds darken before they moved along on their way across the mountain. The maples are beginning to deepen to dark reds and brighten to illustrious oranges, the oaks are turning soft yellows and earthy taupes. The last of the dahlia blooms sat perched like jewels; the moss still green against the tree trunks and the stepping stones.

To be still is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

Being still in Adonai’s presence is where I receive the peace He offers me, where I learn to trust and come to understand the sovereignty of the Ancient of Days. It is where I relinquish my ideas of how things ought to be and accept the path He lays before me. It is where I remember God’s mercy and lovingkindness, His faithfulness and trustworthiness. It is where I remember how patient He is with me – the most impatient creature He ever created. It is where I remember Yeshua’s sacrifice, an undeserved gift of grace. It is where I am reminded that I don’t have to work to prove my worth, that I am chosen and I am unconditionally loved. It is where I remember there are many things for which to be grateful and a plethora of reasons to be joyful. It is where I ponder the greatness of God and the perfectness of His timing and the generousness of His providence.

How can I not be joyous when autumn leaves come swirling down about me and settle at my feet? How can I not be mesmerized when the full moon illuminates a cold night or the stars hang as brilliant diamonds upon a black velvet sky? How can I not marvel at the gloriousness of a sunrise streaming through the early morning mist dispelling the night’s darkness or the sunlight gilding the trees golden as it sets each evening? Why is the smoke of a campfire so mysterious as it floats away disappearing into nothingness? Why does the warmth of a hot cup of cocoa or a steaming mug of apple cider warm, not just my hands, but also my mood? Why is it so easy to be happy when the dog sighs napping at my feet or be curious as the ravens land in towering trees calling to one another in the foreign language of birds?

To be still is not wasted time; it is a special place I am allowed to dwell to cultivate an intimate relationship with my King and my Savior. It is a place to marvel at the work of the Creator and praise Him for it. It is a place that fills me with awe and gratitude, peace and joy. It is the place where I am reminded of the perfectness of every tiny detail, that might escape my eye, but which Adonai attended to with careful planning and with love. It is where I remember that there is a time and place for everything under heaven and that no event, big or small, escapes the watchful eye of the One who never slumbers or sleeps.

Being still is the most necessary event that gets penciled into my calendar. Being still is a non-negotiable, uninterruptible, mandatory habit that I must practice and it is a time that must be protected. I highly recommend it.

Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!
~Psalm 46.10

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