Embracing Stillness: Trusting God Amidst Life's Chaos

Devotional

Day 1: God Is Our Refuge and Strength in Turmoil

In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, God stands as our unshakeable refuge and strength. When the world feels like it is falling apart—whether through personal loss, unexpected illness, or overwhelming circumstances—He remains our ever-present help. Instead of relying on our own frantic efforts to fix or control what is beyond us, we are invited to trust in the One who holds ultimate authority. Even as nations rage and kingdoms fall, God is within His people, and He will not let them fail. In every storm, He is our fortress, and we are called to rest in His protection and sovereignty. [42:16]

Psalm 46:1-7 (ESV)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Reflection: When you face turmoil or uncertainty this week, what would it look like to pause and intentionally trust God as your refuge instead of immediately trying to fix things on your own?

Day 2: Be Still and Know God’s Presence

Amidst our endless striving and activity, God calls us to stop, be still, and truly know Him. We often fill our lives with noise, busyness, and distractions, believing that our efforts will bring us closer to God or solve our problems. Yet, it is in the quiet, in the stillness, that we encounter His presence most deeply. God is exalted not through our frantic work, but as we quiet our hearts and listen for His still, small voice. In the silence, we are drawn into deeper relationship with Him, learning to rest in His sufficiency and sovereignty. [46:08]

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

Reflection: Set aside ten minutes today to sit in silence before God—no phone, no music, no agenda—and simply ask Him to make His presence known to you.

Day 3: Love Is Patient, Kind, and Perseveres

True love, as God defines it, is marked by patience, kindness, hope, and perseverance. It is not self-seeking or easily angered, but waits diligently and trusts in God’s timing. In our impatience and striving, we often act out of frustration or pride, but love calls us to a different way—a way that protects, trusts, hopes, and endures. Even when circumstances are difficult or people are challenging, love does not fail. This kind of love is not natural to us; it is a gift that grows as we become more like Christ, learning to wait, to hope, and to persevere in all things. [51:37]

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Reflection: Who in your life is God calling you to show patient, persevering love toward this week, even if it’s difficult or inconvenient?

Day 4: Jesus Modeled Stillness and Prayer Amidst Busyness

Even in the midst of intense ministry and constant demands, Jesus made time to withdraw to quiet places and pray. After days filled with teaching, healing, and serving others, He rose early in the morning to seek solitude with His Father. This rhythm of stillness and prayer was not an afterthought, but the foundation of His life and ministry. We are invited to follow His example—setting aside time, especially at the beginning and end of our days, to be with God, to listen, and to align our hearts with His will. In doing so, we join God in the work He is already doing, rather than striving in our own strength. [58:02]

Mark 1:32-35 (ESV)
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can create space for stillness and prayer in your daily routine this week, following Jesus’ example?

Day 5: God Inhabits the Praise of Children and the Humble

God delights in the joyful praise of children and those who come to Him with humble, open hearts. He establishes strength through the simple, honest worship of the young and the meek, silencing the enemy and bringing glory to Himself. As we dedicate our lives and our families to Him, we are reminded that God values the praise that comes from a place of dependence and trust. Whether in the laughter and noise of children or in our own moments of surrender, God is present and at work, inviting us to steward the gifts He has given and to raise up the next generation to know and praise Him. [38:05]

Psalm 8:2-4 (ESV)
Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

Reflection: How can you intentionally encourage and participate in the praise of God—whether through your own childlike faith, supporting children, or humbling yourself before Him today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we celebrated the dedication of Milo James, a reminder of the preciousness of children and the joy God brings through new life. Psalm 8 reminds us that God establishes strength through the praise of children and infants, and that He is mindful of each of us, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. As we reflect on the gift of children, we are also called to consider what is in our own hearts—what burdens or attitudes we may be carrying that do not belong, and how these things can hinder our closeness with God.

The heart of our time together focused on the invitation to stillness. In a world that is often tumultuous and filled with striving, Psalm 46 calls us to remember that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. When everything around us seems to be falling apart, our natural instinct is to take control, to strive, and to fix things ourselves. Yet, God calls us to “be still and know that I am God.” This stillness is not passive, but an active trust—a surrender of our own efforts so that we can truly know and experience God’s presence.

We explored how love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, is patient and kind. Love waits, hopes, and perseveres. These qualities require a posture of stillness and trust, not frantic activity. The world’s version of love is often noisy and self-seeking, but the love that comes from God is enduring and transformative. Even in our impatience and striving, God’s love remains steadfast, inviting us to grow in Christlikeness.

Looking at the life of Jesus in Mark 1, we see that after a day filled with ministry and healing, Jesus withdrew to a solitary place to pray. He modeled for us the rhythm of work and rest, of engagement and stillness. The Jewish day begins at sunset, a reminder that God is at work even as we sleep, and that our days should begin by joining Him in what He is already doing. We are invited to lay aside distractions, to quiet our hearts, and to seek God’s peace and direction in the stillness.

As we close, the invitation is to examine our hearts, to let go of what does not belong, to forgive, to repent, and to receive God’s grace. May we be a people marked by peace, patience, and a deep trust in the God who is our fortress and our hope.

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Key Takeaways

1. Stillness as an Act of Trust In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, God calls us to be still—not as a form of passivity, but as an act of deep trust. True stillness is a surrender of our own striving and a recognition that God is sovereign over every storm. It is in this quietness that we come to know Him more intimately and allow His peace to anchor our souls. [40:14]
2. Love’s Patience and Perseverance The biblical definition of love is rooted in patience and perseverance. Love waits for God’s timing, hopes for what is not yet seen, and endures through difficulty. These qualities are not natural to us; they require us to slow down, to resist the urge to control outcomes, and to trust that God is working even when we cannot see it. [51:37]
3. Letting Go of Vain Striving Much of our activity—even in service to God—can become vain striving if it is not rooted in love and dependence on Him. We are tempted to measure our worth by our productivity or to fix things in our own strength. God invites us to lay down these burdens, to let Him be our fortress, and to find our identity in His presence rather than our performance. [46:08]
4. The Rhythm of Work and Rest Jesus modeled a life that balanced engagement with people and withdrawal for prayer. The Jewish day beginning at sunset is a powerful reminder that God is at work even as we rest, and that our days should begin by joining Him in His ongoing work. Establishing rhythms of stillness—both at the start and end of our days—opens our hearts to God’s leading and refreshes our souls. [58:02]
5. Examining and Surrendering the Heart God desires to cleanse our hearts, to remove what does not belong, and to fill us with His peace. This requires honest self-examination, repentance, and a willingness to let go of unforgiveness or self-reliance. As we open our hearts in stillness, we make space for God’s grace to transform us and for His love to flow through us to others. [64:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Child Dedication: Milo James
[02:15] - The Gift and Praise of Children
[04:10] - Prayer for Families
[05:30] - Reflecting on the Heart’s Burdens
[07:08] - Forgiveness and Letting Go
[08:14] - Invitation to Stillness
[09:16] - Psalm 46: God Our Refuge
[10:30] - Responding to Life’s Storms
[11:30] - The City of God: Certainty in Uncertainty
[13:00] - God as Our Fortress
[14:08] - Knowing God Beyond Striving
[15:00] - The More Excellent Way: Love
[17:41] - Love is Patient and Kind
[19:37] - Hope, Perseverance, and Stillness
[21:38] - Harvest, Hope, and Christian Calling
[23:24] - Love Never Fails
[25:00] - Growing in Love and Christlikeness
[27:00] - Lessons from Parenting
[29:00] - Jesus’ Rhythm: Work and Stillness
[32:02] - Beginning and Ending the Day with God
[36:15] - Prayer and Invitation to Stillness
[38:08] - Closing Blessing and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 46:1-3, 10 (ESV) — > God is our refuge and strength,
> a very present help in trouble.
> Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
> though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
> though its waters roar and foam,
> though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
> ...
> “Be still, and know that I am God.
> I will be exalted among the nations,
> I will be exalted in the earth!”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV) — > Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Mark 1:32-35 (ESV) — > That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 46, what images are used to describe the chaos and trouble that people might face? How does the psalmist describe God’s role in the midst of this?
According to 1 Corinthians 13, what are some specific qualities that define love? Which of these qualities are mentioned as requiring patience and perseverance?
In Mark 1, what did Jesus do after a busy day of ministry and healing? What does this show about his priorities?
The sermon mentioned the dedication of Milo James and the significance of children’s praise. What verse was read during the dedication, and what does it say about the praise of children?

Interpretation Questions

The psalmist says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” What does it mean to be still in the context of chaos and uncertainty? How is this different from simply doing nothing?
The sermon described love as patient, kind, hopeful, and persevering. Why do these qualities require a posture of stillness and trust rather than frantic activity?
Jesus’ rhythm of ministry included both engagement with people and withdrawal for prayer. What might this teach us about balancing work and rest in our own lives?
The pastor invited the congregation to examine their hearts and let go of burdens or attitudes that do not belong. Why is self-examination and surrender important for experiencing God’s peace?

Application Questions

When you face situations that feel chaotic or out of control, what is your natural response? Do you tend to “grab the oars” and try to fix things yourself, or do you find it easy to be still and trust God? What would it look like for you to practice stillness this week?
The sermon talked about “vain striving”—working hard even in service to God, but without love or dependence on Him. Can you think of an area in your life where you might be striving in your own strength? What would it look like to surrender that to God?
Love is described as patient and kind, always hoping and persevering. Is there a relationship or situation in your life right now where you are struggling to show this kind of love? What is one practical step you could take to slow down and respond with patience or hope?
Jesus made time for stillness and prayer even after busy days. What are some distractions or habits that keep you from making space for God at the start or end of your day? How could you create a new rhythm of stillness in your daily routine?
The pastor encouraged everyone to examine their hearts and let go of what does not belong—unforgiveness, self-reliance, or other burdens. Is there something specific you sense God is asking you to surrender or repent of? How can you take a step toward that this week?
The dedication of Milo James was a reminder of the joy and strength God brings through children. How can you encourage or pray for the children and families in your life or church this week?
The Jewish day begins at sunset, a reminder that God is at work even as we rest. How does this perspective challenge the way you think about your own productivity and rest? What would it look like to trust that God is working even when you are not?

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