Be Still and Know

March 1, 2016

Anne of Green Gables. My young heart was so smitten with that story.

“Oh, Mr. Cuthbert,” she whispered, “that place we just came through—that white place—what was it?”

“Well, now, you must mean the Avenue,” said Matthew after a few moments’ profound reflection. “It is kind of a pretty place.”

“Pretty? Oh, pretty doesn’t seem the right word to use. Nor beautiful, either. They don’t go far enough. Oh, it was wonderful- wonderful. It’s the first thing I ever saw that couldn’t be improved upon by imagination. It just satisfies me here”—she put one hand on her breast—“it made a queer funny ache and yet it was a pleasant ache. Did you ever have an ache like that, Mr. Cuthbert?”

“Well, now, I just can’t recollect that I ever had.”

“I have it lots of time—whenever I see anything royally beautiful. But they shouldn’t call that lovely place the Avenue. There is no meaning in a name like that. They should call it—let me see—the White Way of Delight. Isn’t that a nice imaginative name?”

-from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery

This is the place I go to talk to Jesus. I don’t remember when I began picturing myself talking to God in this lovely scene from Ann of Green Gables. It’s been several years at least. When my heart is without peace, I go to the Lord. And I picture being close to Him as we look upon these lovely white trees.

Many days I feel frantic. Or weary. Or confused. Or fearful. Or irritated. Or purposeless. Or worried about what others are thinking of me. And if I can stop the insanity for a minute, I realize I need time with the Lord. So if I can, I pause everything. Close my eyes, and meet with Jesus. I sometimes picture putting my head on His shoulder. And suddenly, I can feel the stress leaving me. He is peace. He surrounds me with love. He is my comfort. He gives me courage. He reminds me that the best thing about me is that I am His. And that is all I need.

Being in His presence doesn’t change my situation. It changes me. It reminds me how to be.

Be still.

“Be still and know that I am God.” –Psalm 46:10

This is one of my favorite verses. Doesn’t it bring you peace? He created the universe. He created each of us. He’s got this. I just have to be still and remember whose I am. I’m His.

When you talk to God, do you picture a certain place? I cannot help but think that if I were face-to-face with Jesus, it would be somewhere stunningly beautiful. And so peaceful.

He wants to meet with you today. Pause and spend time with Him! It will change you.

“Be still and know that I am God.” –Psalm 46:10