On our second day of the couple's silent retreat we were halted by a small, ordinary miracle: an eagle circling over the shore, turning twice above the resort, then coming nearer as if answering the hush between us. The waves rolled in from the distance with their steady, ancient rhythm, and the song “Still” rose in our memory—its words about soaring above the storm echoing Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” In that moment the Psalm's summons to quiet was not an abstract command but a lived invitation set against wind and wing and surf.
To be still is first of all to recognize sovereignty. The command “know that I am God” roots stillness in truth: silence is not emptiness but surrender to the Lord who will be exalted among the nations and on the earth. Christ, who stilled the sea (Mark 4:39) and who bore the storms of our sin, invites us into a stillness that trusts his kingship. The eagle’s effortless soaring becomes a picture of what faith looks like when we stop flapping in fear and instead rest under the shelter of God’s sovereign gaze—aware that his exaltation means our storms are never ultimate.
Practically, entering that stillness requires habits: short times of intentional quiet, Scripture read slowly (begin with Psalm 46 and the Gospels), paired prayer that listens more than it speaks, and physical practices of breathing and grounding that remind us our bodies obey the Spirit’s pace. For couples, shared silence can be a holy discipline—holding one another in prayer without rushing to fill the space, asking simple questions like “What did you hear?” and allowing the Lord to answer together. In those small disciplines we learn obedience not as frantic striving but as a steady leaning into Christ’s presence, trusting his power to exalt and to carry.
If you find the waves rising today, let the image of the eagle and the voice of the Psalm draw you back to Jesus, who bids you be still and know him. He is sovereign over nations and over the private tempests of your life; when you stop striving and lift your eyes, he will carry you above the storm. Take a breath, close your hands in prayer, and rest in the One who is worthy of exaltation—you are not alone, and he will meet you in the quiet. Be encouraged to be still and to know Him afresh.