"BE STILL in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7
Have you ever heard of the 90/10 rule? The rule simply states that whatever happens to us, 10 percent is due to circumstance, and 90 percent is our attitude! In other words, nobody should stay long in blaming circumstance or blaming other people more than taking time to examine one's attitude toward any circumstance. One thing is sure, this rule gives more weight to our responsibility over our responses. Our actions can be planned but our reaction tells it all! How do you maintain a calm attitude in trying times?
Honestly, no one knows how to be calm in trying times unless that person is so close to and is so influenced by the Calm One. Remember, David was not naïve when it came to troubled and trying times. He had the scars to prove it... scars from his enemies and scars he caused himself due to the many foolish choices he made. On top of this, David wrote a psalm that said "be still...” actually, just being still was not his complete advice. He said, "be still in the presence of the LORD". 'Being still' is entirely different from 'being still in the presence of the LORD'. It spells a whole world of difference when we learn to be still in full submission to what God wants.
The reason why we stay calm is not because we are still... it is because of the presence of the LORD! Being still is both a means by which we listen to God and see things His way, and, 'being still' is a result of having been with God! There is no timetable on how long this will be... maybe, until it becomes a lifestyle or is our immediate response to any circumstance we are in. Having a calm attitude is not our ability to stay calm in times of intense pressure... it is about God's power to make us calm in times of severe stress! The process by which we enjoy this inward quietness is not only to be in a quiet place (this is really a great help), but to be taught by God to wait and to see how He works in this difficult situation.
This is very nice on paper but how will it be in practice? Acknowledging God's presence and trusting God's power by relinquishing our pressures to God in prayer is equal to a calm attitude in trying times. What is interesting is... you may not be fully aware about it, but others, especially those ones who are close to you, will notice it. If not for the work of the Spirit, no one can afford to be calm in trying times. This kind of attitude is not immediately available, it is slowly developed as we learn to take time to 'be still' in His presence each day. Our time spent with God will be the preparation and training for us to display a calm attitude in tough times.
"Lord let me draw close to You each day and each moment be conscious of Your Presence over my pressures, then I can experience Your peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.