Stepping Stones: Try to Relax

Transformational Tip

I hate very few things…but I do hate the dentist chair. I recently had a root canal. As I look back at that debacle, I remember sitting in that chair…wow, I was so tense and anxious. The dentist must have picked-up on my facial expressions and body language and said, “it’s going to be OK, try and relax”.

His words sounded almost foolish to me. “Try to Relax”. I started thinking about how difficult it is to try (which requires effort and exertion) and relax (which requires an absence of effort and exertion) at the same time. See my point?

I got to thinking of how the words ‘Try’ and ‘Relax’ just don’t seem to fit together. And then I thought a bit further…how this doesn’t only apply to the dentist chair —but to my spiritual life as well.

In my relationship with Christ, I find myself pressing for God’s purposes, to understand what He wants from and of me…but my own interests seem to always creep into my thoughts. In those moments, the hardest thing for me to do is “try to relax”, and genuinely trust God for the outcome…especially during one of life’s storms. But that is where our level of faith is assessed and tested. Easy to tell others to “try to relax”, but how are you at application?

Today, during times when your heart becomes anxious, put into practice Psalm 46:10…rest confidently in His care. “Be still”…stop your efforts, look at the big picture…God’s perspective. “Know”…His love, sovereignty, omnipotence…His promises…His instruction. Know doesn’t only mean intellectual data accumulation, but real life intertwining of our life and His instruction. Like “Adam knew Eve”…they became as one flesh. Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your thoughts on “try to relax” vs. “be still and know”.

Prayer
Dear Father God, I know that true rest can be found only in You. Help me to end my striving and to trust that You will provide. In Your loving arms I will find rest. Help me learn my confidence needs to come from who You are, what You do, Your character, promises, and instruction…and not from anything that is based on me or this world. Then after I am still and know, I listen to Your prompting and respond with great stewardship of my mind and body, doing Your will, not mine
I pray in the name of the ultimate “be still and know”, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children said - AMEN!

The Truth
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