It is really on my heart to share openly and honestly with people about where I am at at any given time. I want to be able to inspire hope, but also be honest about the times that I don't quite have it together. Aside from anything else, they are the times I tend to learn the most. I have had a bit of a frantic week - I have struggled with the noise in my head and the busyness of life, I have been constantly fretting about one thing or another, not sleeping, not trusting, and trying to solve the worlds problems on my own. I was in church on Sunday one of the speakers read Exodus 14:14. I know this verse well, it is one I have clung to over the years in hard times, but this week I have forgotten it exists while trying to take on the world and fix it all in my head. It says 'The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.'. It stopped me in my tracks and has had me pondering all afternoon the meaning of stillness. So of course, like anyone would, I googled....

The blatantly obvious definition is not moving, not moving a muscle, motionless. I looked up the synonyms for still and I found these: quietness, quiet, silence, hush, soundless, noiselessness, calmness, calm, tranquillity, peace, peacefulness, peace and quiet, and serenity. When I am in constant motion, drowning in the noise of life, it doesn't give me much opportunity to hear the quiet voice of God. It also doesn't give God much opportunity to fight for me because I keep getting in the way. There is always going to be noise, stress, and busyness in our lives. I am also aware that there is noise that is created by me: worry, fear, controlling instead of trusting. The more noise I create when I am storming around trying to control everything, worrying about everything, and trying to fix everything, the less room I leave for opportunities for stillness, for peace, for calmness, for quiet, for silence. I don't give God room to enter the situation because I am a whirlwind of chaos. I don't give myself space to hear what God is trying to whisper to me because I am too busy yelling over the top of Him.

My husband is well aware that I get like this and something that we have put in place is that I often will go out for a morning taking photos to the beach or the Barossa. At least once or twice a year I get away on my own with my camera and my bible to just take the time to be still. I have a trip coming up end of this week and clearly it is sorely needed. It is not wrong to take the time you need to for stillness. We should be taking care of ourselves and allowing ourselves to be still. We need to make sure that there are moments of stillness, soundlessness, tranquility, and peace. Have those moments that allow God to speak into your situation. For you, it may not look like photography in the country. It may look like catching up with a mentor or friend who you are free to be yourself with, it may look like the perfect cup of coffee at your favourite coffee shop with a good book. Whatever it is for you, if you are feeling overwhelmed by life and all its noise I encourage you to find yourself some space for stillness.