How Willing are We to Admit Our Limitations?

Every paragraph of Psalm 46 speaks to God’s love and ever present care for us…protection, strength, refuge, help, fortress. Three times we are reminded that he is with us. 

This week, as I relaxed into the mystery that is God, into that with-ness, I felt the comfort of knowing that the overwhelming events of the world are no match for the God-of-Angel-Armies. 

He reminded me to step back from the situation, to 

Step out of the traffic! Take a long,

    loving look at me, your High God,

    above politics, above everything.

This is the MSG translation of my favourite Bible verse, Psalm 46:10. We usually know it as Be still, and know that I am God. Other translations say Cease or Stop striving instead of Be still. 

Rev. Donna often adds a phrase to the verse - we hear “I am God and you are not”.  If we stop striving AND remember that God is God and we are not, I wonder if we could accept our limitations and admit that there are lots of things we can’t do simply by trying harder?  I wonder if we could relax into God’s love and transformation?  

This Sunday we will sing a lot of different names for God…reminding us of so many wondrous qualities of God.  The mystery of God is one of those things I’m going to have to admit that I will never understand…no matter how many Google searches I do.

Psalm 46 (edited) NIVUK and MSG

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.

  God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.

    Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
        he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.’

 “Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything!

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.