After the referendum: 'Be still and know that I am God'

Christian Concern in this piece offers some thoughts on how we as believers can draw spiritual encouragement from Psalm 46:10, in the wake of uncertainty following the decision to leave the EU.

Psalm 46:10-11

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth."

As ever in times of uncertainty and change, the Word of God offers us profound reassurance. In the wake of the United Kingdom’s decision to exit the European Union, let us turn to Psalm 46 and draw encouragement and wisdom from our Lord.

God begins by instructing us to be still. After the referendum result was announced last Friday, a flurry of activity ensued. The financial markets reacted in initial panic. The Prime Minister announced his intention to resign. The Labour party is now facing great uncertainty. So are the Conservatives.

The public expressed either delight or intense disappointment. Social media has become a place to vent thoughts and feelings, and discussions have become very heated on both sides, causing tension between family, friends and the church – to say nothing of the wider community.

In the midst of this turmoil, God offers us refuge in His presence. As believers we must turn away from the negativity, confusion and fear conveyed by the many in the public discourse and even by those around us, and look to Him, acknowledge that He is God, and seek His face. He is not shaken or surprised by the result. He has not ‘fallen off His throne’.  

This momentous event will ultimately shake the foundations of what many people have placed their hopes in. Some will be disappointed and disillusioned. Now is the time to re-evaluate what we have built our hope on. If through this event, we have found that it was placed on anything other than Christ the Rock, now is the time to repent and turn to Him once again.

For those who voted to remain, disappointment is acute at this time. We have seen a kind of denial taking place as many members of the public are calling for a second referendum. The political elite, too, have demonstrated that coming to terms with the result is proving to be a challenge. Even now, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, while announcing that he may run as Conservative party leader, raised the prospect of a second EU referendum. Scotland, which voted to remain in the EU, is talking about holding another referendum on independence from the rest of the UK. Attempts to ‘undo’ what has been done will no doubt continue.  

Christians prayed fervently before the referendum, and whether they hoped for the UK to stay or leave, many asked that God’s will would be done. As this referendum has exposed much division and even hatred across the land, acceptance of the outcome may be difficult (which is not to say that this wouldn’t have been the case if the result had been different). Some may be wondering how God can work through a result that produced such a divided response. But we serve a Lord who is the Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the End. He sees beyond the short-term consequences, which will surely contain many challenges, and understands how this event fits into His purposes for all mankind. What may look hopeless to us looks entirely different to our God.

It will take a humbling of ourselves as individuals to seek stillness and complete dependency on the Lord of Hosts, accepting that we do not understand all that He is doing. Many will have expressed their views quite strongly before and after the referendum – about its outcome, about those who voted differently to themselves, and about the government with all its shortcomings. To cease argument and look to God is a humbling thing to do.

Now more than ever we need to seek Him and pray that He would use us effectively in labouring for  Him as He brings about His purposes. If we look at this event with a Godly perspective, we can look beyond the turmoil before us and begin to see this time as one of great opportunity. We are seeing a shaking of Britain’s political structures and now is the time to pray that the Lord will raise up new leaders who will advocate for Godly laws and standards. It is important that we recognise that this shaking is a necessary part of God’s restoration process, and that we partner with God even in this.

There is much to be done in the ministry of reconciliation. The church community needs leaders to rise up who will model healing and unity as we seek to love our neighbour and repair the hurts that have sprung from this referendum. Matthew 5:9 says "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." We must also intercede for our nation, confessing and repenting on its behalf of how it has turned away from God. We must speak prophetically into our society the message of the gospel. Jesus Christ is our Living Hope. He is the only Hope of the nation.

Verse 10 of Psalm 46 ends by the Lord promising us that He will be exalted among the nations; indeed, over all the earth. Jesus Christ reigns supreme over all (Colossians 1:16-18) and we can place complete confidence in Him despite the changing circumstances. Above all things, we should pray that God be glorified in this situation and that His people would walk in assurance that He reigns.

Related Links: 
After the referendum: The Lord still reigns  
Some thoughts for healing a divided and broken nation  
Post-referendum prayers