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Writer's pictureShelby Leigh Kizer

Be Still & Know

Updated: Jun 19, 2020


When all this craziness first started, I didn't feel the emotional effects of it immediately, As the days turned to weeks the reality of it all started setting in. I started feeling so anxious. There was this pit in my stomach that I could not get to go away. I have known in my heart from the beginning that God has had this, but when we are bombarded with so much bad news and confusion it is easy to let fear creep in.

God tell us, "Do not fear," 365 times in His word. One for each day of the year.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Fear is why there is no toilet paper or bread at the grocery store. Fear is why I have a pit in my stomach. Fear is what is drilled into our heads as we watch the latest news report or read another news article.

As I was painting a week or so ago, my anxiety and fear totally took over. The longer I painted the worse the paintings looked and the more anxious I felt. I saw my prayer journal sitting on table in my studio, and I just had this urge to write God's word on all the paintings that weren't working. So I did. And then I ripped them up and hung them all around my studio.

One of the verses I hung was this:

"The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:8

I don't think I really understood what God meant by that verse when I wrote it down, but as I sat in my studio with His word surrounding me, I felt so much comfort. I was reminded that God's word can comfort us, change us, heal us, challenge us, convict us. His word is never uncertain, never changing. His word is always relevant. He has something to share with us to help us through any situation. His word stands forever.

Fear is creeping in and even taking over so many us right now. No one really knows anything about this virus. We've heard a different story and different guide lines to follow everyday. We are so out of control. It's a daily battle, but a battle I know God has already won.

When we put into perspective how mighty and how good our God is, bask in His Glory, pray to Him and read His word, it can drive the fear right out of our hearts and give us so much hope for the future. Our God will never leave us or foresake us.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

I decided the write a different verse on the back of each of these floral paintings. I hope that these paintings can be reminders to look to God's word.

This series is titled "Be Still" after this verse.

"He says, “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

It is my prayer that we recognize how magnificent, how big, how glorious, how beautiful, how faithful, how victorious, how good our God is. I pray that we can find stillness and peace in our heart through Him.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:7

Whatever His will is, it will be done. In His time and in a way that will bring Him the most glory.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

God is always in control, and we have nothing to fear. He is always with us. He is always good! I pray we cling to His word!

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."

Nahum 1:7

I'm really excited to share these paintings with y'all, but I'm ever more excited to see how God will take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for His glory!!

This series of paintings will be released Tuesday, April 28th, at 10 am CST to shelbyleighdesigns.com.

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