Grace and Peace

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

College is ridiculously busy. There are so many opportunities, distractions, relationships to maintain, YouTube videos to watch, and occasionally even classes to attend. Between studying and social life, walking with God often becomes either a “wave hi in the hallway,” drive-by sort of relationship, or it becomes so methodical it’s, as a good friend expressed, mechanical. How do we make time for God without becoming so scheduled we forget the point?

Asking this question, however, reveals how much of a “Martha” mindset we tend to have. If you recall, Jesus and His disciples were headed somewhere, when two sweet sisters asked Him to drop in. Naturally, He accepts and naturally, Martha is running around trying to get everything in order for the thirteen people invading her home. She gets rather perturbed at her sister sitting around listening to Jesus when there is so much to be done. “Lord, don’t you care?” she asks.

There’s the rub. Too often my conversations with Him are: “God, I have way too much going on. I have two term papers and three exams, not to mention ______ is doing a group project with me and they aren’t doing any of it! Don’t you care? Why won’t you help?”

But Jesus tells us the same thing He told Martha. “You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed”(Lk 10:41). Busyness looks good; it looks righteous. Fluttering about and accomplishing a hundred different things is highly respectable in our works-based American society. But when it comes to spirituality, God is clear: “Be still. Be silent. Rest. Don’t worry. Sit at my feet. Eat from the Bread of Life and drink from the Living Water. First hear Me speak, then do whatever it is you think you need to do.” We have got to learn this lesson if we want to live like Jesus.

In the book My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers addresses a Christian college in England. He tells them in eloquent words that the only real purpose to being in a Christ-centered institution is to learn how to “drink deep.” Don’t get me wrong, Union has plenty to offer prospective students. But what really matters is the opportunity to develop in four years the habit of walking deeply, quietly, constantly, with the Creator. What a marvelous opportunity!

If your walk with God has become routine, evaluate it. Try something different. When properly connected with God, we would be so awed so much of the time, that time with God would be anything but routine. A mechanical relationship with God is a good indication that we haven’t really spent much quality time with Him recently at all. Sure, we have twenty minutes set aside for “God”, but there is far too much else going on to focus on Him. And really, sitting quietly is so impractical anyway, right? I mean, we could be doing something for God instead of just waiting on Him.

But God holds the entire world in the palm of His hand. He traced out the contours of your face and designed the unbelievably intricate eyes you are reading this with. He has died for you and risen to life to protect you. He is worthy of all praise in heaven and on earth. How could we ever become complacent in a friendship like that? Listen to Him; he comes in a whisper, so be still and hear God speak.