By Ryan Spilhaus

As a Future Leader, one thing you realize is that you are never at a loss for things to do. No matter what ministry you’re working for you’ve always got about three things you’re working on at the moment and four things on the horizon. Personally, I love this. I need to be busy and for there to be another task to jump to when I’ve finished something. It’s also great because we really get to work on some substantial projects that have a real impact.

However, sometimes it’s good to be able to escape the pressures and the stress of work and take some time to be still before God. Psalm 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God…“This is something that if you know me, you know I have a hard time with. However, it’s recently become more and more apparent to me how important this time of solitude and one-on-one time with God really is, especially when you’re working in ministry.

That’s why our Future Leaders prayer retreat was so perfectly timed. Wednesday morning we all climbed into the 15 passenger van (which Future Leader Allan McCullough so skillfully drove) and drove far, far away from the cozy confines of McLean Bible Church. We ended up in Berryville, VA, where we spent several hours praying and continuing our study of Titus before heading back.

Remember Psalm 46:10? The verse doesn’t end with “Be still, and know that I am God.” The second half of the verse goes on to say, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

That’s so important to remember. While we may rationalize to ourselves that we don’t have time to be still because we’re so busy doing ministry work, God reminds us that He WILL be exalted among the nations, and He WILL be exalted in the earth. That’s such an amazing promise, that we can come and be still before God, knowing that His name will be made famous.

You could even argue that being still before God is a prerequisite to your own effectiveness at glorifying God, because, honestly, none of us can do this on our own strength. I’ve certainly seem that in my own life. We need God’s strength. And sometimes that means being still.