In the Quiet, In the Stillness
On the windowsill in my kitchen, sits a plaque that reads, “Be still and know that I am God.” Many times I am drawn to that verse as I reflect on my friendship with Jesus. Over the years, my earthly relationships have gone through changes. I have had times where Father allows my social life to be busy, filled with lots of hustle and bustle. Then there are times when He pulls away the distractions and in the stillness, He has spoken, “I just want you for Myself.”
This present stage of stillness and quietness in my life brings to mind the song “None But Jesus” by Brooke Fraser. The first line of the song echoes the verse on my windowsill, “In the quiet, in the stillness. I know that You are God.” God continues to bring reassurance that there is nothing wrong with the stillness or the quietness. How I need to be reminded of this when I am quick to rush past His gentle voice. But the call remains, “Be still, Juliana. I am in your midst.”
I have found myself, at times, longing for anything BUT the quietness, causing me to cry out, “But I don’t know what to do!” And then the question came, “Juliana, are you comfortable being with Me in the quiet and the stillness?”
I wondered what a practical friendship looked like with Jesus and I. Am I comfortable to grow through hearing His voice and how He speaks to me? Am I comfortable to BE with Jesus and have Him be with me?
God has shown me at times that I fill my life with activities, in the hopes of advancing my relationship with Him. I realize that my mindset on this relationship is completely backwards to the intimacy He longs for. The world preaches the mentality of our value, our worthiness of receiving love and acceptance, and our very identity being linked to what we do.
It has been said that “to be still” is to be present to Him, who is always present to us. I don’t have to invite Jesus into whatever situation I find myself in because He always dwells within me. I must choose to remember who He is declared to be… He is, He is here, and He is now. All that happens moves in Him, He is not separate from my circumstances or me. His Word says, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28a)
Growing in our friendship with Jesus is a lot like a new relationship that I am developing with someone. Periods of silence can feel awkward until you get to know one another and you are comfortable in the quiet. Jesus isn’t uncomfortable with me or with the stillness. The fact is He loves to be with me, whether it’s mopping the floors, writing, or cleaning the toilets. Even if, from my eyes, it doesn’t measure up to something that He would want to be a part of.
Our Almighty God invites us to enjoy the oneness and the intimacy that can be found in Him. As I grow in experiencing this intimacy I can sing out the words from “None But Jesus” as truth … “There is no one else for me, none but Jesus. Crucified to set me free. Now I live to bring Him praise.” In the stillness, in the quiet… I am learning to cling to Father and know that He is God.
Whether you find yourself in the “chaos and confusion” of circumstances or in the “stillness and the quiet,” let His soothing voice bring peace to your restless mind. “Be still. Be still, my child. I am here. I am in your midst. I am your God and you are My beloved.” 
None But Jesus
by Brooke Fraser
In the quiet
In the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored
When You call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
In the chaos
In confusion
I know You’re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my day
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord
Forever more.