Pleasant Valley UMC
43987 Little River Turnpike, Chantilly, VA 20152
703-327-4461

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10)

My dearest church family,

I am Pastor Sophia. Have you ever felt seasick—not just on the water, but in life? The rocking waves, the unsettled stomach, the dizziness of being tossed about—it’s not a pleasant feeling. Sometimes, that is exactly how life feels. The news changes every hour. Bills pile up. Families face stress. Health concerns come when we least expect them. The waves just keep coming, and our souls feel seasick too.

Good news!! God has not left us without hope. Into our storms, He speaks a gentle yet powerful word: “Be still, and know that I am God.” That reminder is what we will lean into this Sunday together. The world may shake, but God does not move. He is our horizon. He is our anchor.

I wonder—what has been rocking your boat lately? For some, it might be financial pressures. For others, it’s family relationships or health struggles. Maybe for you it’s simply the exhaustion of trying to do too much at once. (I don’t know about you, but sometimes my to-do list feels longer than the Book of Numbers!) Whatever the waves look like, God offers us a way to stand firm: staying connected to Christ.

Jesus tells us in John 15 that He is the vine and we are the branches. That means His strength, His peace, and His life are available to us when we remain in Him. Just as a phone cannot survive without its charger, we cannot thrive without staying plugged into the love of God.

Here’s my gentle challenge this week: before you check your phone in the morning, check in with God. Even two or three minutes of stillness—just breathing deeply and whispering, “Lord, You are my anchor”—can calm the spirit and remind you who holds you steady.

Remember, we don’t walk this journey alone. As your church family, we’re here for one another—to laugh together, cry together, pray together, and maybe even steady each other’s boats when the waters get rough.

This Sunday, we’ll discover more about how to stay anchored in Christ, and how His anchor gives us peace in a restless world.

Until then, hold fast to this truth: God is our anchor, so the world cannot shake us.

With love, prayers, and a smile,

Pastor Seung Hae (Sophia) Yoo-Hess

Sophia (Seung Hae) Yoo-Hess
Pastor of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church
43987 Little River TWPK, Chantilly, Virginia
Office: (703) 327- 4461

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