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23 Benefits of Being Still

Rest, peace, stillness…our soul craves these things like we crave air after being under the water for more than a few seconds. Yet, it seems as if we ignore these cravings more and more. If I’m honest with myself, I don’t know how to be still. I think I do. However, when I set out to design and write Issue No. 8: Be Still, it was brutally clear that I did not know how to be still, despite stillness and silence being some of my favorite topics—I’m always searching for it (probably because my soul craves it!). In addition to pondering the practical applications and subjects associated with stillness, I spent a little time digging through my Bible and started writing down the benefits of being still.

This little task of looking at the subject of stillness from a slightly different perspective, that of considering the benefits through scripture, acted like a key that unlocked a place of understanding; and like a blast of stale air coming out of a long-lost treasure chamber, this exercise felt like an exhale of confusion and an inhale of pure, fresh air.

As you peruse my (short) list, keep in mind that for most items, I only pulled out a single verse within a larger story. The verses I chose may not make sense to you until you go back and meditate on the full context. Part of becoming still involves the process of stepping out of worry, anxiety, grief, fear, stress, and so on. As such, I looked for instances in the Bible that not only directly instruct us to be still but also included “Do not” statements such as, “Do not fear”, etc. The reason is it seemed to me that being still excluded fear, worry, anger, grief, and so on. Ultimately, I discovered that stillness is what allows us to attach ourselves to the promises of God!

The list below is small compared to what else there is to uncover in the Bible about the benefits of being still so I encourage you to use this as a starting point and to add to this list personally-revealed discoveries!

Benefits of Being Still

  1. ENCOUNTER GOD’S JOY (versus ours). Nehemiah 8:10 “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord [emphasis mine] is your strength.” (Modern English Version)
  2. OUR NEEDS ARE MET. (Read Psalm 23)
  3. FIND REST. (Psalm 23)
  4. REFRESHING TO OUR SOUL. (Psalm 23)
  5. ABLE TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS. (Psalm 23)
  6. ELIMINATES FEAR. (Psalm 23)
  7. FIND COMFORT. (Psalm 23)
  8. MY MIND AND BODY IS REFRESHED. (Psalm 23)
  9. REMAIN IN THE COMPANY OF MY KING. (Psalm 23)
  10. OPENS THE DOOR FOR THE MIRACULOUS. (Exodus 14:13-14; Joshua 3:8)
  11. HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD. (Numbers 9:8 “Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”;. Also, 1 Samuel 9:27; 2 Kings 19:12)
  12. GIVES ME STRENGTH. (Isaiah 41:1; Isaiah 30:15)
  13. GOD REVEALS HIS PRESENCE. (Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” The Living Bible)
  14. GOD REVEALS HIMSELF. (Psalm 46:16; Proverbs 9:4-6)
  15. RECEIVE HELP. (Isaiah 41:13-14 “I am holding you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God—and I say to you, Don’t be afraid; I am here to help you. 14 Despised though you are, fear not, O Israel; for I will help you. I am the Lord, your Redeemer; I am the Holy One of Israel. ” The Living Bible)
  16. ASSURANCE OF BLESSINGS. (Psalm 116)
  17. ADONAI HEARS ME. (Psalm 116)
  18. DISCOVERING AND RECEIVING MY HEART’S DESIRES. (Psalm 37:1-4 “Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God). For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
  19. SOOTHS ANGER & RAGE. (Psalm 37:7-8)
  20. ENCOUNTER ABUNDANT PEACE. (Psalm 37:11)
  21. I LEARN TO TRUST ADONAI AND BECOME DEPENDENT ON HIM. (Psalm 37)
  22. I HAVE A SAFE PLACE. (Psalm 37)
  23. FIND BLESSINGS AND HAPPINESS (Psalm 84)