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“For the Lord is a God of knowledge and by Him actions are weighed.”  I Samuel 2:3b (ESV)

Rainy, cloudy days at the beach are never my fave. If you know me, you know I’m a sunshine loving girl. The warmer the temps the better. If the sun is shining, I’m definitely outside.  So vacation this year unveiled several rainy, cloudy days – let’s just say I got a lot of reading, emails and other things done. Towards the end of the week, the sun reappeared and I was the happiest person on the beach.

Amazing how quick our “emotions” can be elevated to happy or deflated to sad.  Perhaps you’ve lived in those margins of fluctuations which can easily send you into reactive mode.  If I’m not careful, my mourning of the loss of sunshine can rain down on everyone else’s happy.  Not good.  We see this picture clearly right?  Yet so many times our “emotions” quickly revolt into reactions which impact others negatively. Now don’t get me wrong here, it’s not the emotion which is bad but rather our tendency to react based on what we are feeling in the moment. Runaway emotions never serve us well.

Pause is God’s gift to us in the midst of emotions – a critical grace ushering us into a slower pace rather than a quick regret.

For the musician, pause marks a visual cue for the performer to better interpret the intent of the composer.  The organic creation of silence opens the door for intentional reflection. When we resist the urge to respond or react based on our feelings, we position ourselves to view our circumstances from God’s viewpoint.

Speakers use pause to emphasize key points or change gears in their presentation.  Grabbing their audience’s attention.  Slowing down their thought process or reawakening them to what they would have otherwise missed.  Strategically placed to benefit the hearer. When we resist the urge to respond or react based on our feelings, we gain depth and discernment from God – teachable moments He longs to speak into our hearts.

One of the most beautiful examples of pause in scripture is found in the story of Hannah.  Barren for years and provoked by Peninnah (her husband’s other wife who had children), we find Hannah experiencing all the emotions encompassing empty arms.  We can only imagine the irritation, frustration, jealousy, sadness and unworthiness, she faced.  Yet despite her infertility and the social distress of not being able to produce an heir for her husband, Hannah did not target her emotions in the direction of her rival (Peninnah).   In complete surrender, she chose to trust God with her barrenness and the one who taunted her.

Sweet friends, we would be wise to do the same.  When overwhelmed by our emotions, we can purposefully embrace pause and trust God to lead us  – we won’t be disappointed.

“Father, You created us with beautiful emotions designed to be enhancers of our life rather than destroyers of our relationships. Help us to welcome the gift and grace found in pause.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life