What is the meaning of life? Why are you alive? Do you have a purpose? Why did God make you? Is your life even about you? Colonial pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) wrote a book with the awkward and wordy title, “A Dissertation Concerning the End for which God Created the World.” The book’s thesis was that God created the world not primarily for people’s happiness but for His own glory. The word “End” in the title means purpose. Though most people do not see the glory of God in creation, the reason or purpose for which God created the world was for His glory. It is through seeing the glory of God in all things that people find their greatest purpose and happiness in God.
We find this truth throughout the Scriptures. It is ubiquitous in the extreme. We especially see it in the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms is an expression of the heart’s deepest longing for God. The heart finds the satisfaction of that longing in seeing and rejoicing in the glory of God. In Psalm 46, the psalmist sees and rejoices in the glory of God in that He is our fortress in times of trouble. He concludes the Psalm with these words (Psalm 46:10-11):
“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
The Lord speaks with the voice of command, “Be still!” To see and rejoice in the glory of God, we must radically shift our focus from ourselves and the world to God and His glory. The words “Be Still” in the context of this Psalm have two meanings for the believer. The first is to calm down in the face of your troubles; God is with you. Our hearts and minds can be racing with anxiety as we try to cope with what has happened. Calming down gives us the space to reorient ourselves to God. The second meaning is to quit frantically running around seeking your own glory; God will be exalted in the world. People naturally seek their own glory. It is part of our fallenness. We are all self-oriented in various ways. It is only when we are still that we can see and know the glory of His plan for the world. When we make the time to take the focus off ourselves and put it on God, we can begin to know the contours of God’s plan, thus seeing and rejoicing in his glory. The most significant dimension of God’s glory is His love. God is our fortress because He loves us. His love demonstrates His glory. “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
In times of trouble, it is hard to change our attention from what’s happening to us and focus on God’s eternal plan for His glory. Our struggles can be so present and pressing. Though it is hard, it is necessary. That is why God commands us, “Be still and know!” There is peace in knowing that God first seeks His own glory, and He seeks His glory by loving us for our good. If we seek Him, He will help. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).