Do you sometimes watch or hear the news and wish you hadn’t? I do. Sometimes the news is almost too much to bear. It’s easy to become discouraged and many people do. They read the paper, listen to the radio, watch television and then want to go into hiding. We live in a frightening time...but we live in a wonderful time too and I want to make the most of it! Today, let’s step back in history to a time when the world was a scary place for someone else and consider his words:

The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:6-10)

The Sons of Korah paint a picture of a world in chaos…for many people today, it’s very much like the world we live in right now. Because of the media, we can see across the globe as events unfold: rioting people pulling down governments; ethnic cleansing; gang wars in the city streets. We hear political discourse getting angrier—and the volume keeps going up. It is tempting for us to get louder and angrier too, so that we can be heard. But in today's passage, God comes crashing into this uproar. “Be still!” but it doesn’t end there. It’s not the kind of “hush” we say when we want someone to quit making so much noise. God says, “Be still and know that I am God!” Despite that fact that nations were in an uproar, kingdoms were toppling, war was threatening on every side, God spoke to His people and told them to be still, be quiet, don’t be upset, don’t get restless, and don’t get nervous. Be still and know that I am God. I’m still in control. My purposes are going to work out. I’m going to be honored by every nation. I am going to be exalted by everyone on earth. What about you? Is the world around you in chaos right now? Are you worried about what’s going to happen to you, to the nations, to your nation, to the world?

If so, this message is for you today. Be still! Get quiet and listen for God. Don’t worry, don’t fear, and don’t freak out. God is sovereign. He's in charge. He always knows what to do...and that's very Good News!