Flourishing Life

"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room." – Blaise Pascal

Most of us are constantly surrounded by and involved in busyness and noise. We’re creatures of habit who must stay busy in order to maintain a sense of usefulness and normalcy. We need to keep at it, keep going a hundred miles-per-hour so at the end of the day we feel we’ve accomplished something worthwhile.

The problem is that without building time into our week, or even day, for stillness, that we can come to the end of a day, a month, a year, a lifetime, having worked hard to climb the ladder of security, success, and significance, only to discover the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall. We need to set aside time for solitude, silence, and prayer in order to be sure that we’re busy doing what God wants us to do.

What does God want me to do? Who does he want me to be? What is his plan and how do I fit into it? These are questions that can’t be answered in the midst of the busyness. If you’re too busy to sit still and listen to God, then you’re too busy. You might want to learn a new word, “No.” Sometimes we’re called on to say “No” to the good, so we can say “Yes” to the best. God always has the best in mind for us.

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Stop. Be still. Listen. God is with us. He wants to speak into our lives. We need to be ready to listen, and obey.