With school, sports, social media, and anything else we have going on, it can be hard to stop and just be. Someone once said you are not a human doing, you are a human being. In the midst of your daily busy-ness, do you have time and space to stop and “be”?

Just “Be” It

In terms of the world, stopping what we are doing to just “be” can sound like a giant waste of time. It’s important to remember that God wants us to do good things daily but Christ also taught us to first and foremost spend time with the Father. Jesus models this time of being with the Father in Scripture whenever He takes time to go and pray. To the world this often sounds pointless. Time to “be still” makes us no money, gives no prestige or fame, and doesn’t check off any of our to-do list boxes. Yet this call to be still is written on our hearts and necessary for the Christian life. 

Who’s in Control?

So what does it mean to just stop and to be in the midst of our busy schedules? God the Father who reveals Himself as Yahweh, I am, in the Old Testament is being itself. He calls us to a real relationship with Himself and to intentionally stop, pause, and spend time with Him as a loving Father. In Psalm 46 we hear be still and know that I am God! This Psalm reminds us that in the midst of anxiety, storms, and conflicts God is victorious and in control. When we take time to stop and be in God’s presence, we are reminding ourselves of who God is and who we are as his beloved sons and daughters. 

Gift of Peace

Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John, peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. Christ is the prince of peace and whenever we stop to be with God He wants to pour out His grace upon us and His peace. The peace we find when we stop and “be” is not the peace of this world. God’s peace isn’t something we achieve or accomplish but is a free gift even in the face of stress or anxiety. When we take time and practice being with God we receive real grace from God as a loving Father. 

How To Be

So how do we just “be”? Might sound like a silly question but it requires some thought and intentionality. Being requires that we know that God is our loving Father and that He wants to be with us. This practice involves planning time for quiet prayer, reading Scripture (His intended Word to us), listening for God’s voice, and staying in the present moment knowing that God is here. These moments are simple, but they are powerful! To just be we can turn to Scripture and the Sacraments, we can visit Eucharistic adoration, we can find a quiet place out in nature to be with the Father just like Jesus did. Like any real relationship, the practice of being with God takes time, intentionality, and a gift of self to God amidst our busy schedules.

In the midst of school, friends, scrolling, and the general busy-ness of life, risk “wasting some time” to be your loving Father. Our Father and creator has made you for a real relationship with Himself and a relationship that brings peace, understanding, and strength in the storms of life. God calls you to just be, right now, and to know His love and plans for you today!

---

To schedule an appointment with Adam Cross LMFT #116623 please call (805) 428-3755, email amc.cross7@gmail.com, or visit the contact page at adamcrossmft.wordpress.com/contact