Wednesday Morning Devotional: Strength in the Stillness

Good morning, friend. I know you're probably reading this with your coffee in hand, maybe scrolling through your phone before the world wakes up, or sitting in that quiet moment before the chaos of the day begins. This morning, I want to invite you into something countercultural: the power of doing nothing.

Wait, before you click away thinking this is some productivity hack disguised as spirituality, hear me out. What if I told you that the strongest thing you could do today is simply be still?

The Strength You Didn't Know You Had

We live in a culture that glorifies the hustle. Wake up early. Grind harder. Do more. Be more. Achieve more. And somewhere along the way, we've convinced ourselves that our value is tied to our output. But God? He's got a different metric.

Isaiah 30:15 drops this truth bomb: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."

Read that again. Quietness and trust. Not productivity and performance. Not checking off every box on your to-do list. Your strength, real, soul-deep, enduring strength, comes from being still before God.

What the Morning Teaches Us

There's something sacred about the early hours. Before the emails start flooding in, before the demands pile up, before the noise of the day drowns out everything else, there's a moment. A window. And in that window, God is waiting.

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God."

Notice it doesn't say, "Be still and accomplish ten things." It says, "Be still and know." Know who God is. Know that He's got you. Know that you're not carrying this alone.

When you start your morning in stillness, you're not being lazy, you're being strategic. You're anchoring yourself in the only thing that won't shift when everything else does. You're reminding your soul who's really in control.

Bible Study: The Call to Be Strong

Let's look at Joshua for a second. Talk about pressure. The guy had to follow Moses, Moses, and lead an entire nation into unknown territory. God's command to him in Joshua 1:9? "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

But here's the thing: Joshua's strength didn't come from his military strategy or his leadership skills. It came from God's presence. It came from trusting that God was going before him, fighting for him, holding him up when he couldn't hold himself up.

You're not Joshua leading a nation, but maybe you're leading your family through a tough season. Maybe you're navigating a job you don't love, or a health crisis, or a relationship that feels like it's falling apart. The same God who told Joshua, "I am with you," is saying that to you right now.

Stillness isn't weakness. It's the bravest thing you can do because it requires faith. It requires you to stop trying to control every outcome and trust that God is moving even when you can't see it.

Life Hack for Early Risers: The "First Five" Practice

Okay, let's get practical. Here's a simple life hack that can change your entire day: The First Five.

Before you check your phone (yes, I said it), before you scroll through social media or dive into the news, give God the first five minutes of your day. Just five. That's it.

Here's what that looks like:

1. Sit in silence for one minute. Just breathe. Let your mind settle.

2. Read one Psalm or one verse (Boundless has a daily verse on the homepage, easy grab).

3. Pray for two minutes. Nothing fancy. Just talk to God like you're talking to a friend.

4. Set an intention for the day. What do you want to focus on? Who do you want to be today?

That's it. Five minutes. And I promise you, those five minutes will do more for your soul than an hour of scrolling ever could.

Want to go deeper? Use the Boundless app to set a reminder. Our platform sends gentle nudges to help you stay consistent, no shame, no guilt, just a friendly "Hey, let's do this together."

The Power of Global Connection

Here's something beautiful about Boundless: you're not alone in this. Right now, as you're reading this, there are people all over the world starting their mornings with the same intention, to find strength in God's presence.

Our native translation feature lets you connect with believers in over 100 languages. You can join a prayer chat with someone in South Korea, share a testimony with a single mom in Brazil, or study Scripture with a college student in Nigeria. The Kingdom of God has no borders, and neither does your community.

Try this: hop into the live chat today and simply type, "Praying for strength this morning. Anyone else?" Watch how quickly people from all over the globe respond. You'll realize you're part of something so much bigger than yourself.

And Pastor Dr. Layne McDonald always says, "The best part of being part of Boundless? You're never forgotten, never alone, and deeply loved by God, no matter where you are."

The Affirmation You Need Today

Let's pause right here. I want you to say this out loud, yes, out loud, even if you're sitting in a coffee shop and people are staring:

"God is my strength. I don't have to carry this alone. In the stillness, I find peace. In the quiet, I hear His voice. I am strong because He is with me."

Say it again. Let it sink into your bones. This isn't just positive thinking, this is truth. You are held. You are seen. You are loved.

When Stillness Feels Impossible

I know what you're thinking: "Penny, this sounds great, but my life is chaos. I don't have time for stillness."

Friend, I get it. Between work, kids, relationships, responsibilities, stillness can feel like a luxury you can't afford. But here's the truth: you can't afford not to.

When everything around you is moving at a hundred miles an hour, stillness isn't a pause, it's the reset button. It's the moment where you stop trying to keep all the plates spinning and remember that God's got them.

Even if it's just two minutes in your car before you walk into work. Even if it's locking the bathroom door while the kids are distracted with breakfast. Even if it's turning off the TV and sitting in silence for sixty seconds before bed.

Find your moment. Protect it. Guard it. Because in that moment, you're not just resting, you're refueling your soul.

Your Invitation to Boundless

If you're looking for a community that gets it, that understands the tension between faith and real life, between striving and resting, Boundless Online Church is your place.

We're not about judgment or performance. We're about showing up as you are and finding God right where you are. Whether you're homebound, traveling, working nights, or just prefer the flexibility of online worship, you belong here.

Join a small group. Hop into the 24/7 chat. Listen to a podcast. Take a self-paced Bible study. And if you need someone to pray with you right now? Call our prayer line. We're here.

Pastor Dr. Layne McDonald has built Boundless to be a place where you can come home to God, anytime, anywhere, in any language. No pressure. No strings. Just love.

Pro tip: Use our ZIP code search to find a physical church in your area if you're looking for an in-person connection too. We're not trying to replace your local church, we're here to complement it and support you wherever you are on your journey.

Oh, and when you're looking for family-safe media to wind down with tonight? Check out movies through VidAngel or "Enjoy Movies Your Way." And keep your digital space safe with Bark and Covenant Eyes: because your eyes matter, and so does your peace of mind.

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This morning, the invitation is simple: Be still. Let God be God. Let His strength be your strength. You don't have to earn it. You don't have to perform for it. You just have to show up.

Join us at www.boundlessonlinechurch.org and discover what it means to find strength in the stillness.

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AI 24/7 Assistant: 1-901-668-5380 Boundless Phone: 1-901-213-7341 FA Memphis: 1-901-843-8600 lmcdonald@famemphis.net - www.boundlessonlinechurch.org