Be Still

by Andrew Phillips

While on our recent Ukraine trip, we ate lunch in the apartment of Lynn Allison, one of the missionaries who helps us tremendously in those efforts. Although the food was delicious, the afternoon was not as enjoyable as usual. I had just hung up the phone with the baggage claim department. All 15 of the bags which held most of our teaching materials were sitting in an airport in Istanbul (Why Istanbul, you ask? It is a long story). We had arrived on Friday night. This was Tuesday afternoon. I was frustrated.
We had only a few minutes to make the walk over to a local congregation to lead a VBS. I decided to hop on an elevator with Doug Allen and Kostya (one of our interpreters) for the three-floor trip to the ground level. Picture the three grown men standing in a small walk-in closet, and you have a fairly accurate image of our situation. When we reached the bottom floor, the elevator began to make strange noises. The door opened, but only slightly. Kostya dove out into the hall as the door slammed shut behind him. Doug and I were stuck.
I wish I could adequately capture in words my emotions at this point. I was upset over our luggage and helpless to do anything about it. I just wanted to get off the elevator and DO something. I wanted to take action and make something happen. But instead, I was stuck in an elevator, pressing a call button to speak to a woman on the other end who didn't speak English.
It was at this point that a verse of scripture came to mind - "Be still and know that I am God." ( Psalm 46:10) I knew that verse; after all, I had led the song based on it for years, but I understood it afresh that day. I was thinking, "I've got to go, the VBS is about to start!" Be still and know that I am God. "I need to call our travel agent and find a way to get our luggage!" Be still and know that I am God. "I have to figure out a place where we can buy extra clothes and supplies while the stores are still open!" Be still and know that I am God.
Our society values action and production. We want to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. We don't like to be still, we don't enjoy staying motionless, and yet that is the way we realize who is really in control. I like the way the NASB renders the passage, "Cease striving and know that I am God." The truth is, I couldn't change the situation with our luggage any more than I could will the elevator doors to open. All my "striving" was like jogging on a treadmill; no matter how hard I worked, I was still going to end up in the same place. I was not in control. After about 20 minutes, a repairman opened the door and we were able to make it to the VBS. The inconvenience only lasted a short time. I pray that the lesson it taught lasts much longer.