Holding Still

I remember the moment vividly. It was an early summer morning and dad and I were working together outside, using a wheelbarrow to haul rocks and dirt.

All of a sudden, we heard a tremendous buzz. I looked up and the sky was filled with bees–thousands of them! They were flying together like a giant morphing blob in the sky.

Every instinct told me to run. But, sensing my fear, dad took my arm. “Hold still, son.” Sure enough, the bee swarm passed us by. It probably took a full minute for them to clear the sky!


Be still and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

According to bible scholars, King David wrote these words while under great personal and political stress. And things had been that way for years.😬

It’s hard to be still when your life is a constant chaotic mess. Pandemonium and peace don’t necessarily mix. But stillness–somehow, some way–is a better choice.

Picture David as a young shepherd, sitting on a hillside watching his father’s sheep. Maybe he played his harp there and sang songs to the Lord. Or did he just listen–to the wind, and the birds, and to God?

Today, may we find the courage to hold still a minute longer. To know God, no matter what comes swarming through our lives.

Kind reader, thank you for stopping by. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.


Photo by Dewang Gupta on Unsplash

This post was first published in 2022.


The Stigma Stops Here. 🛑

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26 responses to “Holding Still”

  1. Andy B of The BerryBunch Avatar

    it did. love it when that happens!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks, Andy B. I’m glad this one reached you at just the right time. Praise God!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Andy B of The BerryBunch Avatar

    finally looking through wordpress. then i spot one of your posts…i’m drawn in, but don’t know why…i read it then reach your penultimate paragraph………..my goodness………………..talk about timely, specific and more – thankyou for writing this

    Liked by 1 person

  4. pastorpete51 Avatar

    You had a smart dad. I would have run for the hills and probably ended with a nice swarm flying after me. Being still is so hard, when every instinct shouts, “Do something!”

    Liked by 1 person

  5. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks for stopping by, Bridget! I’m sorry, I got behind in responding to comments. God Bless!

    Like

  6. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Priscilla. A recent Google search says that swarming bees aren’t usually aggressive–their focus is on finding a new home. However,my dad was still right, and God is still right, too! Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Priscilla Bettis Avatar

    I am scared of bees (and wasps). That would have freaked me out. But your dad was right. Be still. And God is right.

    Like

  8. davidsdailydose Avatar

    So true, grandma. One would think it gets easier to be still, the older you get, but this has not been my experience.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Grandma's Ramblings Avatar

    Being still – sometimes hard to do – but that is when God can really speak to us.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. ken riddles Avatar

    I would have had the same instinct to run – ‘Heavenly Father take hold of us…’

    Liked by 1 person

  11. jesusluvsall Avatar

    Hold still/Be Still- the rest of it is most important- Know that I am God. Basically God saying- I’ve got this

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Bridget Avatar

    I needed this reminder to Hold Still, in the midst of the swarms of life’s challenges. Thank you, David! God bless 🙏🏻

    Liked by 1 person

  13. My Life in Our Father's World Avatar

    It was your reality at the time. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  14. davidsdailydose Avatar

    It seemed like they filled the sky, and they did take awhile to pass. However, I was a frightened kid and it may have been a smaller swarm than I remember.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. My Life in Our Father's World Avatar

    That is A LOT of bees, I’m glad you heeded your father’s warning.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. The Devotional Guy™ Avatar

    It’s amazing, indeed. We often think we need more than we actually do.

    Like

  17. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you for sharing, Dawn. It’s great to hear from you! My still time with God is usually in the morning, but I am looking for ways to find more during the day. It’s hard to unplug from all the screens, especially when I have the Bible and devotional books on my phone. However, I’m experimenting with going off-line—like it’s 1979, now and then.

    Thank you again for stopping by. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. davidsdailydose Avatar

    My dad was a wise man, and was particularly cool under pressure. He was a teacher, but could have been an excellent first responder (paramedic, fire fighter, or police officer).
    It’s amazing how few things we truly need to live a satisfied and reverent life. I’m paraphrasing Marcus Aurelius here.😊
    Thanks for reading and commenting, brother. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. The Devotional Guy™ Avatar

    Your dad was a definitely a wise man, David. And you’re right, it is hard to be still when your whole world is crashing down around you. But, thankfully, God is faithful. Blessings to you, Nancy, and the pups. Great post.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Dawn Avatar

    Thank you, David! I felt comforted reading your reminder to take time to be still. This is something God recently had me put into practice. Taking time daily to just sit still in His presence. It is amazing how this has been helping me and deepening my relationship with the Lord. And during times of stillness, we can often hear Him better.

    It is hard for us to be still in a world that demands constant movement. But there are so many blessings that we receive when we are obedient to the Lord. Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. God Still Speaks Avatar

    If you happen to get an extra ticket to the Open at St Andrews, you know where to find me!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Goes against all natural instinct, but remaining still in the Lord while the world swarms around us is the best course of action. That’s what peace that passes all understanding is like!

    Liked by 2 people

  23. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Crystal. I try to make my posts modern day parables. I’m glad they are relatable and sync well with scripture. This is what I’m aiming for whenever I write. Thank you for stopping by and also for sharing. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. The Crystal Light Avatar

    I’ve always appreciated those sermons that connect a personal experience to scripture. It makes the Bible so much more relatable. Thanks for that, David!

    Liked by 1 person

  25. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Brother Alan. Being still and knowing God can be a challenge. However, as my Mother in Law used to say, “If you really wanna, then you’re gonna.” In other words, we always prioritize what’s important to us, even if we act like we’re controlled by our circumstances. For instance, if I received word that an all expense trip to see The Open at St. Andrews was mine, my schedule would quickly clear!
    Thank you for being a faithful reader and commenter. May God bless you and Susan richly today! 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Alan Kearns Avatar

    Excellent wisdom from your dad regarding that swarm. Sometimes it is the wisest step to stay still. It reminds me of the times I came face to face with wildlife on walks; I stayed still and was blessed with a prolonged meeting, but if I moved for a better/closer view they would disappear quickly. May you and Nancy be blessed in the stillness of God’s presence today 🙏 🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    Liked by 2 people

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