" I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."  Job 42:3

As I was reflecting on Pastor Godfrey's message on Job 40 & 42, Why Don't I Just Be Quiet, it reminded me of Psalm 46:10 - Cease striving and know that I am God.  When in travail, there is a time for loud lament and there is a time to cease striving.  It's like the child who is screaming his head off, and we hold him and say "hush, be still."

Sometimes it's hard to be quiet, to be still, when the anxieties and grievances won't be silent.  Maybe a walk through nature, to stand before the stars, the oceans crash, maybe the Grand Canyon, might quiet our soul, pointing us to Creator God.  Or maybe something simpler, like a blank journal page, kneeling beside our bed, or coming to church to pray forces us to be silent, to be still, and know that He is God.   

When we do so, God, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  In Job's case the first reward is that he came to see and know God more.  He came to know both God's full sovereignty in all things, all purposes, all details.  But also, as we will see in next week's message, that God is fully gracioius too.  He always gives us more than we deserve - always.  The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, but the Lord also continues to give and to give and to give.

How about being still, silent, and cease all striving for a few minutes today.  Go to the Lord both speaking and being silent before the Lord, just knowing He is God.