Most of us know how to work for God. Sitting with Him is the harder skill.
We come to prayer with an agenda, because an agenda is what we know. A list of requests. A problem to solve. A quick check-in on the way to the next thing. All of it good. And all of it, if we are honest, keeps God at arm’s length, useful and busy and never quite close. We treat the God of the universe like an errand.
A quieter way exists, older than all our hurry. It is simply being with Him, with nothing to accomplish.
Think of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy serving, doing the good and necessary work, and getting more resentful by the minute. Mary just sat at Jesus’ feet and listened. When Martha complained, Jesus did not scold Mary for being lazy:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42, BSB)
One thing is necessary. Not the serving, as good as it was. The sitting. The choosing to be near Him before doing anything for Him. Most of us are Martha, and we did not even notice we had chosen it.
So how do you learn to sit? Awkwardly, at first. Set a timer for five minutes. Put the list down, out of reach. Do not ask for anything. Just say, “I am here, and I am listening,” and then let the quiet be quiet. Your mind will bolt for the to-do list a dozen times. Gently bring it back. You are not doing it wrong. You are learning a language your soul forgot it spoke.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10, BSB)
Be still. Before you fix anything, before you fetch anything, before you prove anything. Still enough to remember that you are loved for being His, not for being useful.
The world will tell you that is a waste of five minutes. Your soul knows better. A certain rest only comes when you finally stop working for God long enough to sit with Him and just…be.
Breathe Through the Storm