On a Cold Wednesday

Today, I read Ecclesiastes—all twelve chapters. I took in the words of the Preacher, letting his wisdom wash over me. His reflections on the fleeting nature of life, the pursuit of meaning, and the inevitability of time struck a familiar chord with me. While the themes are ancient, these words spoke as clearly to my current struggles as they undoubtedly did to the people who first heard them.

After I finished reading, I sat with the words and let them settle. I pondered their weight. Sitting with Scripture—truly sitting with it—is different from simply reading it. It’s easy for us to skim the surface and treat the Bible as just another book filled with stories and teachings good for our soul. When we deliberately slow down, we quiet our restless thoughts, giving space for God to speak.

You and I most often hear God through His written Word rather than an audible voice. God speaks primarily to us through His word, after all. I wonder how often we truly listen? When we allow His truth to sink into our hearts rather than passing haphazardly through our minds something beautiful happens.

In a world constantly demanding our attention, being still before God is not only a challenge—it’s also a gift.

Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10 ESV

Ecclesiastes reminds us of life’s impermanence. It encourages us to pursue wisdom instead of folly and it warns us of the importance of fearing God and keeping His commandments. Ecclesiastes strips away our illusions, calling us to look beyond the temporary and toward the eternal. And in that stillness, in that listening, we find clarity—not in having all the answers, but in trusting the One who does.

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. ² Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. ³ For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

⁴ When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.⁵ It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. ⁶ Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 ESV

So, as I sit here contemplating the words of Solomon in his epistle Ecclesiastes, I don’t have all the answers. However, I trust God does. I’m simply trying to be still and listen.

I don’t know how you engage with God’s Word, but I can’t help but wonder what passages of Scripture have deeply resonated with you recently. I’d love to hear what that looks like from your perspective.

In the meantime…

Be salty, stay lit.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

The Stigma Stops Here.🛑

#mentalhealthmatters