Psalm 46:10 
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; 
I will be exalted among the nations, 
I will be exalted in the earth.”
(NIV)

He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! 
I will be exalted over the nations! 
I will be exalted over the earth!”
(NET)

“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.”
(The Message)

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We renovated our offices about ten years ago. Right in the middle of our building is a room set up with living room furniture. It is quiet and comfortable. Two people or a dozen or more can meet together to discuss important matters or pray together. We call this room the Hearing God room.

Psalm 46:10 is written on the wall next to the main entry door. It is a reminder to enter into this space in peace and in confidence in who God is and what he is doing. 

This old world is a mess right now. Truthfully, it always has been. Even so, we are moving toward a time when God promises everyone will see him for who he is. The end of all things is not the end of all things. The end of all things is the beginning of all the good things we ever dreamed or imagined, only better. 

We don’t have to protect God, defend God, or fight for God. God’s got this. Even better, he’s got us. You remember the old song,

He’s got the whole world
In his hands

He tells us here to live and work from a place of peace.

He tells us to depend on his presence and purpose.

He tells us that he will take care of the whole wide world. 

He tells us to look to him. Look to him now. Look to him in reverence for who he is. Look to him in trust for what he will do. Look to him in worship because this world ends with a trumpet solo to put to shame every trumpet solo ever performed. It ends with a shout of ultimate, enduring victory. It ends with a song of praise. The End is The Beginning Again. 

I sat in the Hearing God room with one of our pastors a few years ago. He was battling cancer. Major church issues were rocking his world. His family was feeling the pressure of it all. We said all we needed to say. We finished our meeting with prayer, as we almost always do in that room. Neither of us stood after the Amen. Instead, we lingered in the silent goodness of that place.

Moments passed. My friend sighed and said, “It’s so peaceful here. I hate to leave.”

God’s presence is like that, isn’t it? He said it would be. It is.

—

I will be still and know he is God.

—

Our Father, you are God. Your defining characteristic is love. Your presence is peaceful. In the chaos of our world, in the turbulence of our times, you are our rock, our refuge, our hiding place. Hallelujah! Amen.