God's Glory Church

“Be still and know that I am God.” — Psalm 45:11

The first photograph of a person was taken by Louis Daguerre in 1838. The picture shows an empty Paris street in summer. The strange thing is that the street and sidewalks should have been filled with carriages and pedestrians. However, no one is visible.

The person in the photo was actually not alone. People and horses moved along the busy Temple Boulevard, the view of which is shown in the picture. They just didn’t register. The exposure time for creating a photograph (known as a daguerreotype) was seven minutes. Only stationary objects were depicted. And the only motionless living being was a man on the sidewalk. She stood in front of the shoe shiner with her foot on the stand.

Sometimes immobility allows you to achieve what is impossible during movement and effort. God speaks to His people in Psalm 45:11: “Be still and know that I am God.” Even if the nations are in turmoil (v. 7) and the earth is shaking (v. 3), those who are calm in their hope in God will know that He is “a help in the troubles that often happen” (v. 2).

The Hebrew word translated as “calm down” can also be translated as “stop fussing.” If we rest in God, instead of relying on our limited abilities, He will become our protection and strength (v. 2).

How do you “appease” before God today? In what area do you need to trust Him more?

Heavenly Father, help me to rely on You and find peace in Your unfailing love.

Author: James Banks