Be Still: Learning to Experience God in the Present

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

Being still is something I deeply desire, yet it doesn’t come naturally to me. I long to be present where I am, to slow down and fully experience the moment. But my natural wiring has me moving at a fast pace, always looking ahead to what’s next.

Yet, in the rare moments when I do slow down—when I stop, take a breath, and look around—I find myself encountering the Lord in ways I would have missed otherwise. Lately, I’ve realized that I spend so much time praying for the next thing, longing for the next season, that I overlook the prayers God is currently answering. Instead of rushing forward, I want to be still. I want to experience what He is doing in real time, to acknowledge His presence here and now.

The irony is that the more I embrace stillness, the more I recognize that God’s timing has been perfect all along. The slower I go, the faster I seem to arrive at exactly what He has for me.

Being still doesn’t always mean literal silence. Sometimes, it looks like sitting quietly in His presence, soaking in His Word. Other times, it’s blasting a worship song, singing at the top of my lungs, pouring my heart out before Him. It can be journaling, reflecting on the ways He’s moving in my life, and intentionally recognizing the prayers He has answered—no matter what that answer is.

Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I don’t want to miss that peace. I don’t want to be so consumed by what’s next that I miss the beauty of what God is doing now. So today, I’m choosing to slow down. To be still. To trust that the God who holds my future is the same God who is working in my present. And that is enough.