August 4: Still Waters, Strong Heart

Theme: Resting in God’s Presence

Corry Chambers,
Women’s Ministries Director CIC

Scripture: “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10 (KJV)

There’s a sacred strength that comes from stillness. Though it may seem passive on the surface, being still before God is one of the most powerful things a believer can do—especially when life feels uncertain, burdens feel heavy, and answers seem far away. 

We often think of “still waters” as peaceful, refreshing, and calm—like those described in Psalm 23. But not all stillness feels restful at first. Sometimes it feels like waiting with no word. Like crying out and hearing no answer. Like silence so deep it aches. These are the moments that test a family’s strength—not with chaos, but with quiet.

Stillness in the Middle of the Storm

I remember one of those moments myself. I was lying on the dining room floor, tears falling, my heart aching with unanswered questions. I had prayed, I had waited, and still there was silence. I felt crushed by the weight of uncertainty. And in that moment of desperation, the song “Be Still, My Soul” came to mind. As I played the melody, the lyrics seemed to pour peace into the chaos within:

“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.”

It felt as though God had stepped into that room, into my anguish. I wasn’t alone. The pain was still present—but now, so was His peace. I sat in His presence, calmed, comforted, and reminded that stillness is not emptiness—it’s where God meets us most deeply.

What Are the “Still Waters” in Your Family?

• The tension of waiting for a breakthrough in your child’s behavior or health
• The quiet grief after a loss no one else sees
• Financial uncertainty that makes every decision feel fragile
• A marriage under strain, where communication feels like walking on eggshells
• The silence of unanswered prayers

These quiet struggles require a strong heart—not in your own strength, but in the strength that comes from abiding in God’s presence.

The Power of Quieting Your Soul Before God

When families learn to be still before God, we begin to experience deep spiritual benefits:

1. Clarity – In silence, we hear God’s whisper more clearly. Distractions fade and His direction becomes more evident.
2. Peace – As we release control, God’s peace guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).
3. Healing – Stillness allows buried pain to surface so God can bring healing.
4. Strength – The still soul is not weak; it’s deeply rooted. As Isaiah 30:15 says, “In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
5. Intimacy with God – Stillness draws us closer to God’s heart. We stop striving and start abiding.

Let these timeless words speak to your soul again:

“Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.”

That’s what stillness before God gives us: the hope that even the mysterious, even the painful, even the unanswered—will be bright at last.

Reflection

• What is your family facing right now that feels like still waters with hidden pain?
• Have you created space lately to be still before God—not just alone, but together as a family?
• How might God be inviting your household into deeper trust through stillness?

Prayer

Father, teach us to be still—not just when life is quiet, but especially when our hearts are noisy with fear and questions. Help us to rest in Your presence, to hear Your voice in the silence, and to trust Your plan even when we don’t understand it. Give our family strong hearts—hearts that remain rooted in You through every season of stillness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In the quiet, He is not absent. He is close. And in your stillness, you’ll find that His heart has been holding yours all along.