Daily Delight
Living in the capital of the U.S. means exploring this country’s past by walking the halls of museums and staring into sculpted faces. Perhaps one of the most famous historical sites is the Lincoln Memorial. I was witnessing the usual tourist flurry of jumping pictures on the steps, the constant chatter, the endless sea of middle school students and selfie sticks. Except this time, I noticed a sign I had never seen, “Please help preserve the atmosphere of reverence.”
I struggle in silence. I struggle to sit without noise, the noise that helps me avoid and resist entering stillness. I sometimes don’t understand what I’m supposed to get out of it, besides being still and knowing that God is who He says He is (Psalm 46:10). I’m realizing I don’t enter stillness, just to be in solitude or silence. I enter stillness to enter the atmosphere of reverence.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14 NIV).
Moses says this to the Israelites after leading them out of slavery from Egypt straight into the wilderness, when Pharaoh decides to force Israel back to Egypt. God was going to deliver them out of their distress and only called them to stillness. Moses didn’t know how God was going to help, he only knew the Lord was going to fight for them (Spoiler alert: they were about to walk through the Red Sea).
In the seasons I feel led into the wilderness I want to be able to have the courage to embrace the sacred action of entering stillness knowing God is working and fighting for me.
Feeling trapped in the wilderness one morning, I surrendered to the still small voice. “Ask me what you want from this time.” I realized the Lord was fighting for me, to become aware to His presence. “Captivate me,” I prayed.
Captivate me, so that I am enthralled in reverence, so that my glory multiplies in rejoicing You, so that I feel the glow of your mercy like the sun on my back, so that my eyes seek you always, so that my heart knows peace, so that my soul rests in the strength of your stillness even during the most chaotic activity, and so that I know I am never alone even in the wilderness.
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Photo: @bellamusing
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Amy Werner
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Amy grew up near the mouth of the Appalachian trail in a northeastern town in Georgia. She now lives as a writer and science nerd in our nation’s capital, navigating life as a 20-something obsessed with finding sanctuaries in nature on the edges of the urban hustle of D.C.
This new transition to D.C. has been a season of learning a posture of surrender and peaceful silence found with God even amid the noise of cultural expectations and standards.
Amy is passionate about seeking justice, finding faith in all of life's details and championing young women to see and appreciate their divine value and worth. Amy loves stories, campfires, donuts and strong friendships, often the combination of all these elements equals her happy place.
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