Be Still and Know: Faith Lessons from a Garden Visitor

Garden Visitor

As a hobby gardener, I find joy in nurturing plants and watching them grow. One day while examining my outdoor plants, I came upon a tree frog perched in the shade of my tomato vine—perhaps resting or waiting for his next insect meal. I was initially startled by his presence because he seemed to blend into the surroundings.

As I went about my business, I noticed that the frog didn't move at all. His legs were tucked under him in a way that made them invisible. He looked like a motionless blob. As I finished inspecting my plants, I wondered if the frog was asleep—or maybe even dead. So, I tapped him a few times with a stick. There was no response. He didn't move at all. I let him be.

As I exited the garden, I began contemplating what to do about the frog, if, by chance, he was at the end of his life. I also began to wonder if he was "playing possum." If you're not familiar with this term, it means to pretend to be dead. Possums, for instance, use this defense mechanism to avoid predators—appearing to be lifeless causes predators to lose interest and move on. To my surprise, a quick internet search revealed that frogs do the same. Imagine that!

I returned to the garden the next morning to find that the frog was gone—much to my relief.

Be Still

The frog has an innate ability to protect itself by being still. For humans, being still involves looking to the Lord for help—for deliverance—as we are told in this verse: "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

Note that in being still we must also be aware of (know) who God is. There are many words to describe Him. Here are a few—He is all-knowing, all-present, all-powerful, and faithful. We can trust Him and accept His plan because we know who He is.

When life becomes chaotic or feels overwhelming, we can find peace by being still and surrendered to God, because "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Exalt Him above all.

Prayer

Lord, in the busyness of life I will take time to reflect on who You are. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Final Thoughts

Take a moment today to be still, and remember who God is.

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