I was biking the 9-mile loop, riding on the sidewalk in the middle of a wide grassy area. There were chickens pecking for insects. One of them was to my left on the road side of the grassy strip. The other 4 were on the grassy area to my right. As I got close to them, the hen on my left clucked loudly and darted across the sidewalk directly in front of me. It startled me, nearly causing my unseating and her demise. In my mind, I yelled, “You were safe where you were. Why didn’t you stay there?”

My heart raced and I pondered the incident.

“There is safety in numbers.” A familiar phrase meaning, if you are part of a larger group, you are less likely to be the victim of a mishap, accident, or other bad event. Following this adage caused danger for my feathered friend as she tried to join her cohort.

Then I thought, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 41:10) This would have been a better life principle for Chicken Little. If she had just stayed where she was, trusting that the one much bigger and more powerful had her best interests at heart, she would have been safe and calm, instead of running around like a crazy person or chicken.

How many times in my life have I run around looking for safety in numbers or the answer to a dilemma from a myriad of counselors. What I needed was to be still. Jahaziel, a priest in Israel, gives a message to the king in 2 Chronicles 20:17. “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you.”

Most of us might say we trust in God, but how many times do we act out of fear and try to fix things ourselves. Instead, I want to be like a newborn babe resting in the arms of my heavenly parent completely free of fear and agitation?

God, may I stand still and trust you have my best interests at heart. Help me to listen to your heart of love. Amen

Do you have trouble being still or are you busily trying to fix things? What helps you to be still?