Read: Psalm 46
Be still, and know that I am God. (v. 10)
My cerebral palsy makes it almost impossible for me to do certain activities when I get excited or try too hard. When I try too hard to do anything, my arms fly all over the place, my body gets all tense and I cannot do anything right. I can’t make my dowel hit the right key on my computer. I can’t find my mouth to get food in, or get my foot into a shoe. When I get that way, it helps to stop everything, take a deep breath, and slowly go back to my task. I find it helps to relax before I do anything.
If you play sports, you know that when you are uptight, it hampers your performance. In meeting people, it goes a lot better if we are relaxed. Then our true personality will come out naturally. In talking in front of others, speeches are delivered better when people relax. A relaxed state helps in doing almost everything in life.
As Christians, we don’t have to be uptight about anything. We have a great God who can help us do anything. Philippians 4:13 says: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” When we relax and become the people God made us to be, life goes smoother.
Just as I find I can do things better when I relax, we can all live better lives if we relax and rely on our great big God who loves us. —Steven Laman
As you pray, ask God to help you relax and rely fully on him.
About the Author
Steven Laman is a writer and public speaker who has lived with cerebral palsy since his birth in 1970. Steven is a prolific devotional writer for Words of Hope, and the author of three books: My Journey God’s Grace, Strength in Weakness and My Grace Is Sufficient. He also volunteers as a teacher’s aide. He lives with his parents in Iowa.
