In the Stillness of His Presence

Welcome to the first “edition” of Teatime and Table Talk. I’m so excited to see how God will use this short devotional teaching to reach hearts and lives, particularly in women. Many years ago, when I was first introduced to the art of “taking tea,” God immediately showed me how such a simple act … just slowing down, sipping a delicious cup of Strawberry tea, and closing my eyes for a few minutes … could change my perspective about so many things. I soon discovered how a cup of tea could change not only my perspective, but how it would also serve to quieten my soul and comfort me. “How,” you might say, “could a simple cup of tea do that?”

We live in a very fast-paced world, and as wives, moms, grandparents, workers outside the home, caregivers inside our homes … whatever our day may look like, we can get caught up in the ever-busy chaos of everyday life. Over many years, I’ve learned that women are very relational; we love being around other women with whom we can share our thoughts, our triumphs, our disappointments, our hurts, and our faith. But our busy schedules often get in the way of us being able or willing to call a “time out” for ourselves.

My first genuine experiences in “taking tea” came when my friend, Susan, opened a beautiful English Tea Room in the same building where my dentist’s office was located. After I finished my dental cleaning, I would take the elevator down to the first floor. As the elevator doors opened, there it was! The smell of fresh-baked scones, homemade soup, and the delicate aromas of many delicious teas filling the air, making a visit to the tearoom for lunch irresistible! Susan would greet me and direct me to a beautiful “just-for-one” table. There she provided me with lovely Tea magazines, filled with delectable recipes and stunning photographs of tea settings. Before long, I was hooked! I knew I wanted to share my new-found “love of tea” with my friends and other women.

But it wasn’t just the “tea” and yummy foods that pulled me into this warm and soothing experience. It was how I “felt” and what I learned and observed through these times. I began to believe that if these special times were so uplifting in my life, they could change and encourage others, too. You see, my own experiences caused me to “see” how quiet, relaxing times with a cup of tea could quieten my soul and awaken my spirit in ways I had not known.

I learned that simply brewing tea and sharing it with others exemplifies warmth, kindness, repose, and tranquility. All of these are traits that we can possess and enjoy. Brewing a pot or steeping a cup of tea creates a time that breaks up daily stress and creates a “personal retreat in a cup” which is like a metaphor for spiritual transformation. Our spiritual journey involves being “steeped” in challenges, grace, and even changing our inner state of being from “hard” to “pliable.” We cannot rush or hurry God’s processes in shaping, molding, and fashioning us into the vessel He desires for us to become. He tells us in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God…”

In the stillness, our spirit is quieted and open to hear what God’s Spirit is speaking to us as we pray and meditate in His Holy Word. In quietness, God is calling us to cease striving, let go of anxiety, and trust in His sovereignty, especially in chaotic times. God is our refuge and strength, and when He tells us, “…know that I am God…,” He is calling us to acknowledge His sovereignty and power, especially when situations in our lives feel overwhelming or out of control. “Be still” is not a suggestion; it is a command. It requires us to surrender our anxiety, and trust in His divine plan, finding peace in quiet dependence rather than fear and uncertainty.

So today, I encourage you to find that special place where you can enjoy and sip your favorite cup of tea. That place might be in your garden, sitting in your favorite chair by the fireplace, or near your favorite window … just a place that tells you, “This is your moment of silence and stillness in His presence.” Your moments and devotions with God don’t have to be elaborate. Simply create your own beautiful time and place where you can experience His comfort, His ways, His love, and even His healing for your body, mind, and spirit. Rest and steep your heart in God, and “Let His Word dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16). As you grow in your quiet times with Jesus, ask Him to show you how to share a simple cup of tea with others who need to experience the “art of taking tea” … in the stillness of His presence.