Finding God in the Stillness
Tea Time…
I realized that I will never truly know Him if I do not slow down.
Sometimes God uses the smallest traditions to teach us the greatest truths… Tea-Time
My earliest memory of “teatime” was at our home in New Jersey when I was 6 years old. After dinner, my Mom and Dad would each have a cup of coffee, go to the living room, and talk about their day while my brothers and I cleaned up the kitchen. I remember this tradition lasting into my teenage years. I also recall an evening at our acreage home in Edmonton, Alberta. It was after supper, and I was about to head out for the evening, so I went to let my parents know. There they were, sitting together, talking with a cup of tea in hand. I didn’t realize at the time how profoundly this tradition would impact me throughout my life.
Years later… “Tea-time,” Dad announced… We had just finished dinner and washing the dishes. The kettle was filled with cold water, set to boil, and we waited for it to whistle. The teapot was warmed by swirling boiling water inside and pouring it out; two tea bags were placed in it. We added the boiling water and let the tea steep as we picked out our favorite teacup or fancy mug. The steaming, golden-brown tea was poured, cream and sugar added for those who wanted it, and we moved to the living room, where we found a comfy spot, curled up, and shared the events of our day. I was now an adult with four children playing outside. As I wrapped my hands around my warm teacup, I felt loved, included, and heard. Looking around the living room, I realized it wasn’t just Mom and Dad anymore.
That familiar feeling of home and family returned early one morning as I was having my quiet time. Sitting quietly in my cozy chair, my Bible open, sipping a warm cup of tea, the memories of “tea-time” flooded back. Closing my eyes, I let the realization wash over me that I was in the presence of my Lord. He loves me. He is my steadfast, constant Rock. He cares about every detail of my life and listens to my prayers. It was my personal “tea-time” with my Savior, and I felt at home, at peace.
It was during one of these quiet devotional mornings that my heart was deeply stirred by the words from Philippians 3:10: “That I may know Him.” I began to consider how easily life’s noise and endless to-do lists crowd out real fellowship with Him. I realized that I will never truly know Him if I do not slow down.
There is a difference between merely reading Scripture and lingering in it. Just as tea must steep to release its richness, time in God’s Word must be unhurried to transform the heart. Faith deepens when we remain long enough in His presence to be transformed. The familiar words of Psalm 46:10 echoed gently within me: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
The title Steeped in God’s Love has become more than just a phrase to me. To be steeped is to stay immersed, to absorb, to be shaped over time. God’s love is not something we work hard to earn, but a gift we accept and rest in. In John 15, Jesus invites us to abide in Him. It is through that daily, quiet abiding in His Word that I come to know Him more deeply and cherish His steadfast love.
Loving Father, I pray that You use this quiet place to draw each of us closer to You. Fill us with a desire to know You more and help us grow in our faith.
Amen
I would love to hear from you…
When was the last time you sat quietly with the Lord? Was there a verse that really spoke to you?
