One of the hardest things to do in life is put everything on hold to seek guidance and the leading of God's voice to govern our lives and nation in times of uncertainty and tension. Our lives are filled with so many obligations and so little time. We are stretched so thin in so many different areas, and things like our careers, political unrest, racial division, family responsibilities or issues, or a host of other challenges in life just add to the stress. We cannot forget to take out time to not only PAUSE but to RESET. Often the balance of everyday living, coupled with the trials we face can cause us to lose the whisper of God's voice while trying to fulfill our daily duties. The first thing we often say is, "We just don't have time." In the world we live in today, who really does?

This particular Psalm is so encouraging as the writer encourages us to put our hope and trust in God, His power, His wisdom, and His love for us. Even in our worst times, no matter what we see going on, we cannot fail to remember all that He has done and promised He will do. God wants us to take comfort and rest in Him. When we get busy, we tend to lose sight of His love, which then in turn causes us to focus on our problems. We are often even tempted to try to take matters into our own hands. When we do that, we no longer trust the will of God concerning his plan in our lives and the world.

That's why spending quality time with God is so important. God wants to be the only thing that has our central focus. However, all too often we are focused more on political disagreements, social media wars or the great disunity in our nation. In order to accomplish this, we must set aside time to allow ourselves to PAUSE. Pausing allows us to get fresh downloads from God. It also allows us to pull away from the cares of life that grab our attention. Our country and our world are looking for hope in the midst of everything going on. Scripture reminds us to pause, reset and reflect on the goodness of God and to remember that God is still in control. Here are four key reminders: 

1. When we pause it gives us the chance us to commune with the Holy-Spirit without being distracted by all that we go through in our day to day lives.
   
   
2. Taking a moment to pause allows us to come back to the very place in His presence where we left off, free of distractions. Whatever happens in life, we must never lose sight of God’s will and His goodness, even when is seems like things are not going according to our plans.
   
   
3. Being still forces us to seek His refuge and the sustaining power of His love. No matter what distractions, delays or pains we may feel, God desires for us to be still and rest in Him.
   
   
4. The reset button will cause us to remember God's original plan for our lives and our nation. Unity has and will always be at the heart of God. When we reset, we can focus on what matters the most. Refuse to allow this season to cause callouses to grow on your heart. Lean into what matters the most Jesus!