Tag: babies

Be Still

Yes, I know; be still. It’s okay. Trust. No need to get all worked up. Take a deep breath. Shhhhh.

Babies. ​​ Toddlers. ​​ Busyness. ​​ Constantness. ​​ Nap time. ​​ Needed! ​​ 

Most of us can relate to the sudden, sweet quiet of a busy home during nap time or when, finally, children are in bed for the night. ​​ The atmosphere quiets down and suddenly you are able to actually think, or get something done, or just be still and breathe deeply for a few moments. ​​ I remember cherishing that small piece of quiet time where my brain could reorganize with no interruptions. ​​ We should wave a banner that says, ‘Adults need quiet time too’!

Or, picture a quickly beating heart stirred from emotions of excitement or fear or anger or​​ uncertainty or even​​ pleasure. ​​ Think of speech that elevates​​ in volume or has become nervously fast. ​​ The rushing around of needing to get things done. ​​ The feeling that you have to do something right now or fix a problem immediately. ​​ Sometimes we can feel like we’re on a playground merry-go-round. ​​ You know, the metal ones that have the bars you hold onto and then the ‘strong’ kid comes and decides to spin it really fast while you desperately try to hold on without getting sick?!

Be still.​​ ​​ 

2Ki 2:1-5​​ And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.​​ 2​​ And Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.​​ 3​​ Then the sons of the prophets who [were at] Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know;​​ be still."​​ 4​​ And Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.​​ 5​​ And the sons of the prophets who [were] at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he answered, "Yes, I know;​​ be still."

<chashah> to hush or keep quiet:--hold peace, keep silence, be silent, (be) still.

Elisha was totally aware that God had plans for Elijah. ​​ Only Enoch had been taken up to heaven in the same manner without a physical death. ​​ Others wanted to talk about it. ​​​​ As Elijah was making his rounds making his last visits, probably saying good bye,​​ Elisha was​​ being​​ questioned both at Bethel and again at Jericho. ​​​​ You can almost​​ hear​​ the prophets saying, ‘Oh my, you know what’s going on right, what are you going to do?’ or ‘Can you believe what’s going to happen?’ ​​​​ This must have been hard for Elisha. ​​ Consider, this was the one he had followed and walked through Jordan with. He learned from Elijah.​​ And​​ what​​ was​​ Elisha’s response​​ to the questions? ​​ Yes, I know;​​ be still. ​​​​ It’s okay. ​​ Trust. ​​ No need to get all worked up. ​​ Take a deep breath. ​​ Shhhhh. ​​​​ We know it was hard for Elisha to say farewell to his friend and mentor,​​ 2Ki 2:12 And Elisha saw [it] and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces,​​ but he gives us a great example of trusting God for His plan. ​​ What did he ask? ​​ For God’s blessing to be upon him. ​​ 2Ki 2:9​​ Now it came about when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."​​ Not for God to change the plan. ​​​​ Be still. ​​​​ Hold your peace. ​​ Be silent. ​​ Trust.

Do we accept God’s plan? ​​ Choose to not question even if it seems ‘out of this world’ impossible? ​​ Even when we know it will cause pain through loss?

Turn to Nehemiah. ​​ Ne 8:11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." ​​​​ We see the Levites repeating to those who could not hear Nehemiah to lay aside their​​ worry, their pain, their anger, displeasure,​​ and​​ grievances. ​​ Anything that was a distraction from worship. ​​ Be still. ​​​​ Right now, be still. ​​ For a time, be still.

<hacah>​​ to hush:--hold peace (tongue), (keep) silence, be silent, still.

When I read the above definition, I immediately thought to the struggle I had in keeping my talk silent. ​​ Some of us feel uncomfortable with​​ silence​​ when we’re with others or we feel there should be a conversation developing. ​​ Learning to be okay with ​​ unresponsiveness and not feeling the need to ‘fill in the gaps’ has been an incredible tool God has taught me in improving my listening and understanding of others. ​​ Silence is good. ​​ It gives us time to digest words said earlier. ​​ It gives us time to think. ​​ It gives others time to think. ​​ Try it! ​​ Stop talking and​​ be still.

Are we able to put our cares aside as we come before the Lord in worship and prayer? ​​ Do the concerns on our heart shadow our ability to fully rejoice in Him? ​​​​ Can we rest in His holiness?

Ps 4:4 Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and​​ be still. Selah.

<damam>​​ to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish:--cease, be cut down (off), forbear, hold peace, quiet self, rest, be silent, keep (put to) silence, be (stand) still, tarry, wait.

Read the first five verses​​ of this Psalm. ​​ Hear David’s call to God for his own safety, for the concern of others and then his trust in knowing God hears him and finally his response to wait. ​​ Be still.

Ps 4:1-5​​ (For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.) Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast​​ relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.​​ 2​​ O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? [How long] will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.​​ 3​​ But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.​​ 4​​ Tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed, and​​ be still. Selah.​​ 5​​ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.

Can we focus on the amazing wonder of God, quiet our heart and trust in His plan and care for all things? ​​​​ 

Hush. ​​​​ Keep quiet. ​​​​ Hold your peace. ​​​​ Be silent. ​​​​ Cease speaking. ​​​​ Be astonished. ​​​​ Stop. ​​​​ Quiet your heart. ​​​​ Rest. ​​​​ Wait. ​​​​ Be still.

Oh Baby!

Oh babies. Whether physically holding your hand, or having your hand held tightly in our hearts, you were and are part of God’s perfect plan. Our love for you is not diminished, only increased as we anticipate and trust the unfolding of eternity.

Praising God for the blessings of grandchildren! A sweet little guy joined the ranks of our family on September 12th. Caden Josiah. I am incredibly thankful that he and his Mommy are doing well. There is a heightened sense of the amazing miracle of birth in our family since our daughter has experienced the loss of two pregnancies: twins at just over three months and a little boy, Isaac, at four and a half months. How fragile and precious is this season of life and death. So as our daughter and her husband continue working through the grief of losing three children, our son and his wife are welcoming their second child. It’s so easy to get caught up in what might have been, or what has been lost. Yet, in order to praise God in all things, His word is our best companion for teaching right and honoring responses to all circumstances of our lives.

We cannot fully know and understand God’s ways.
God set the earth in its place (Job 26:7); God fills the clouds with water and tells them when to rain (Job 26:8); God determines the phases of the moon (Job 26:9); God sets the oceans boundaries (Job 26:10); the clouds, the sky, the stars obey His commands (Job 26:11); God’s power can divide the sea, His understanding can pierce the prideful heart (Job 26:12); God set the sun, moon and stars in place (Job 26:13);

Job 26:14 “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; and how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?”

We can barely conceive of His power so who are we to question His plan?

“God is so great, so powerful, so just and wise, that we ought not to presume to question anything that He does, nor pry into his works with too much curiosity. We ought rather to be firmly persuaded that He governs all things with wisdom, justice, and goodness, and humbly submit to all his dispensations”. Ostervald

So where does this lead us in times of heartache as well as in times of rejoicing?

Trust. Not always so simple, often easier said than done. Trust is a choice we make.

Isa 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”

Trust is seldom a product of understanding. Instead, it relies on a right perspective of God and faith in His existence, His works and His words.
Trust: having confidence or faith in; believing, hoping, relying upon

Is God the object of your trust?
Ps 65:5 By awesome deeds Thou dost answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, Thou who art the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;

Trusting God means we fear Him; not an ‘I’m afraid’ type of fear, but that of position. Holding God in the highest esteem, acknowledging His right to Lordship of everything, placing oneself under submission to His perfect plan for all His creation. Once recognized in our heart for Who He is, we have confidence and safety in His care.

Pr 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and his children will have refuge.
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

The Bible tells us to trust in God as our continual refuge.

Isa 26:4 “Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.

We can trust in God for what He has done and what He will do.
2Co 1:10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,

True faith that brings about peace requires our full commitment, our whole heart our entire being. And in order to have complete confidence, the object of our trust needs to be reliable, secure, and have a perfect track record. Consider this, if a person is dishonest about one thing, how does that affect others’ trust of them?

This begs the question, “Is there anyone or thing in this world perfect”? Who or what is able to demand this kind of trust that begs our total allegiance?

Mt 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

All conceivable perfection belongs to God. In fact, because we are unable to fully appreciate who God is, all imaginable and unimaginable perfection must be attributed to Him also.

Job 37:16 “Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds, the wonders of one perfect in knowledge,
Ps 18:30 As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

“We must say of God likewise that he is immense, and everywhere present, because to be limited is an imperfection; and that he is eternal, that is, ever was, and shall be; for to cease to be, is a greater imperfection than sometime not to have been”. Tillotson, The Attributes of God

When we remain in sorrow for what might have been, we are supposing we knew the future. How often has the future followed your plan?
When we choose to live in the realms of grief, we suppose we have lost what was never really ours.

In all things we can trust God. He has written the past, present and future for His glory and our good. We can choose to trust in His perfect plan.

Ps 65:5 By awesome deeds Thou dost answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, Thou who art the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;
Na 1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Ps 9:10 And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; For Thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.

So how do we respond to sorrow? It is real. It is felt. It is difficult. It can become overwhelming. Sadness due to loss, disappointment, regret and grief can be overcome by faith.  Faith  is a choice – to trust in something greater than ourselves.  Faith that turns despair into hope comes from trusting in The One who is greatest of all.

Specifically, in the case of children unborn, or born without breath in them, or here for only a very short time, is it possible to look at the blessing of what we do have and of what we have been given because of God’s grace?

To have carried a child for even a short time is to have been a part in that child’s existence, if not here, in heaven. To behold a small face if only for an instant is to see a baby created in the image of God. To have felt an unborn baby move within is to experience the miracle of God’s creation of one of His own. To have heard even just one cry of breath before taken to an eternal state with God is a precious memory never to be forgotten. We can praise God for His blessings while we depend on Him for comfort.

Right now we may only understand a small fraction of God’s ultimate and perfect plan, yet one day we will be in His presence and will clearly see Him and His purpose in complete array.
1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Oh babies. Whether physically holding your hand, or having your hand held tightly in our hearts, you were and are part of God’s perfect plan. Our love for you is not diminished, only increased as we anticipate and trust the unfolding of eternity.


Ps 145:3 Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.
Our oldest granddaughter, upon hearing that her Auntie’s baby went to heaven early to be with his sibling twins, was quiet and thoughtful for a moment. She then began smiling, started jumping up and down and clapped her hands excitedly. When I asked her what she was thinking, she replied, “Mina, I have three cousins in heaven!”.

Mr 10:15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it [at all.]”

I pray that I might have the ‘temper and spirit of a child’ who is teachable, humble, and untarnished by expectations of deservedness. Whatever I’ve been given is a gift, completely unmerited. Let me be forever mindful of being saved from what I truly deserve and thankful for blessings too numerous to count.  Keep me focused on Your promises for the future instead of my predictions of what should be.