Be Still And Know He is God

Stop Fighting

The Holy Spirit has been reminding me of Psalm 46:10 for over a year now. Whether I was at a women’s fellowship meeting, out to lunch with friends, watching a YouTube video, leading a Bible study class, or spending time with God – there was Psalm 46:10! It may have been in a different Bible translation, but it was there for me to read again, to joke about again…and to brush off again.

“Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

Psalm 46:10 (CSB)

Was I fighting God? Some months into my Christian journey, I remember reading this verse in the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) and being intrigued by the words “stop fighting”. I knew God was ruler of all nations and would be exalted on the earth. He had certainly exalted Himself in my life. I had accepted He was more powerful than me after a series of interesting events, but deep in my spirit, I felt like the Holy Spirit was speaking to a hidden part of me. I was still fighting God in ways I couldn’t see.

Cease Striving

Meeting Val was a blessing. She and I have served at women’s ministry events, completed Bible studies together, and when our schedules allow, we like to enjoy a meal together. I’m grateful God brought her into my life to learn from and to grow with.

One day, Val gifted me a piece of Biblical canvas art to remind me (and herself) to stop striving for all the answers, for perfection, and to rest in the Lord’s goodness. Can you guess which verse she put on the canvas?

We later joked about it again, but in the end I couldn’t deny God was speaking directly to me through Val. Even though I was getting burnt out by all the things I had committed to each week, I felt I could manage it. I kept at the forefront of my mind that Jesus Christ would be my strength (Philippians 4:13). In reality, I started to question whether all Christian leaders were feeling tired and de-motivated after serving others for many months. I unknowingly believed the lie of the enemy that if I stopped serving here or there, or said no to this request or that person’s need, that my worth would be diminished in the eyes of God. I had been told by several church members that I had a servant’s heart. There was a part of me that wanted to prove this was true.

Was I striving? I started to take God’s Word more seriously, but not enough to pause and reflect deeply. I was in denial. I don’t know if you’ve ever disobeyed God when He’s told you to stop striving, but He will get you to stop and pause one way or another – even at the expense of your plans, pride, and desires.

Be Still

I eventually ended up getting myself into a big slump because of my inability to get God’s hint that I needed to be still and meditate on the fact that He is, and will always be, God.

At the beginning of the 2025 year, I had everything planned out from where I was going to volunteer, to how many hours I was going to work and write, to what days I wanted to spend with family and friends, and the new teams I wanted to join at church. You’d think I’d get the hint after a year of the same verse popping up. Oh, how I can be stubborn!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV)

Fast forward to the end of April 2025. I had finished leading a 29-week Healing Journey class, completed more ministry training, was adjusting to new realities, and had volunteered myself somewhere almost every week while secretly struggling in my personal life. I would put on a smile at church and encourage others to keep the faith, yet when I’d go to my counseling sessions, I would sometimes cry out of spiritual exhaustion.

When would someone pour into me? My counselors helped me realize my Heavenly Father was trying to pour into me. I wouldn’t allow it by staying busy. I was the barrier to my peace. I was fighting God’s plan. I was running from Him as if He couldn’t run faster. My counselors didn’t enable me to disobey God and encouraged me to trust Him in my resting season. They spoke life into me, prayed with me, and were proud of me for accepting my limits (to my surprise!). It hurt my pride to see how I got myself into a burnout slump, yet I also knew I had to learn not to overextend myself in ministry. I had to learn how to rest again in God’s presence and trust all things would get done in His timing.

There Is Grace

I attended a women’s Healing Journey retreat in May 2025. It took place at a Christian campsite where I could rest with Jesus away from city life. I experienced many spiritual breakthroughs during the retreat. I was relieved of some of my mental load, and Jesus had restored my hope. I also met wonderful people, enjoyed good food, and went on a hay ride! Of course, when I arrived back home, I went straight into my weekly routines and tried not to skip a beat. However, God weakened my physical body, and I was dizzy, fatigued, overly emotional, and foggy-brained each day. Responding to messages felt like a monumental task. Is it a coincidence that my symptoms only improved when I was reading the Bible and listening to worship music? I was forced to rest and yield my will to God (to my inner dissatisfaction).

Had I failed God and His people by stepping out of leadership roles at church? Was it OK for me to stay home instead of attend another event? How was I to continue with women’s ministry? Am I sure the Holy Spirit is speaking to me? When can I get back to work?

All these thoughts (and more) were rushing into my head. Can you relate?

Yet God had grace for me. He saw me make foolish decisions as a new leader, and in my weakness, He gave me grace to finish my tasks before putting me on the sidelines. He was waiting for me to come to the end of myself. He was teaching me that my worth as a Christian woman wasn’t tied to how many things I was doing at church, in my home, for God, or anyone else. My value wasn’t in how much I could continuously give without burning out, but in who He created me to be!

I’m writing this to remind you of the same thing. There is grace for you. Accept God’s gift of rest. Maybe you feel burnt out as a wife, mother, sister, or daughter. Maybe you, too, have subconsciously thought that your worth comes from what you do or how you appear in church. Maybe you have a heart for women’s ministry and are working towards serving on a greater scale, but right now you feel the need to pause and regroup. God’s grace is available to you.

Even if the things you want to accomplish are noble, righteous, and from God, I want to remind you to stop fighting against God’s current plans for your life. If He wants you to rest for a season, it’s because He wants to pour into you knowing you have poured yourself out for others. He wants to prepare you for more.

Woman of God, you can choose to cease striving for perfection. You don’t have to overextend yourself to prove your worth to anyone. Nobody can earn their way into Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). You have inherit value as a daughter of God. I want you to know it’s OK to be still for a season or two. Life isn’t linear. You are loved by your Heavenly Father regardless of how many things you have on your Christian to-do list.

Learn from my mistakes. There can be spiritual, physical, and emotional consequences for our unwise choices no matter how good they may seem in the moment. God alone has unlimited ability and power. We have to remember we are humans, not machines! Don’t wait until you physically can’t keep going to pull the plug on some of your plans. Trust the process God has you in today. There may be work to do, but God values rest and self-care, too!

Are you going to choose to rest and be still? Or will you let Him decide for you?

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. <3

Copyright 2025 Angie Vargas