Learning to Rest in a Faithful God

When life feels loud and unsteady, Learning to Rest in a Faithful God echoes the invitation to be still, my soul—stop striving, trust His heart, and find peace.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).

In Germany sometime around 1750, Catharina von Schlegel was inspired to write a hymn that expressed many central truths of our faith. In 1855, her words were translated into English by Jane Borthwick, who was born in 1813. Today we know the hymn as “Be Still, My Soul.”

In Borthwick’s translation, Catharina reminded believers that God wants us to trust in Him completely, rest in Him, and be free from worry and doubt.

Your soul can be still and at peace because “the Lord is on your side.” Trusting in Him, you can “bear patiently the cross of grief or pain” and know that He will provide for you. Things in the world may change, but He remains faithful.

We can be sure that God will lead us even when we go through “thorny ways.” He will guide us in the future, just as He has in the past. We may endure “waves and winds” in the world, but He is the Creator, no matter what happens. We can be confident and hope in Him, remembering that one day “we shall be forever with the Lord.”

No matter what you are going through, you can trust in God. Don’t allow worry and stress to dominate your life. Commit every need and problem to Him. Confess His Word to be true for you! Cease any striving and have faith in God. You can rest in Him.

Reflection Question: What would it look like to truly be still before God today?