Joy of life, radiance of creation, peace and solitude, wholesomeness and sweetness of nature, the exquisite beauty of woodland and wasteland at the break of day, and a marvelous, inscrutable, divine will pervaded that wilderness scene.”
–Zane Grey (Nevada)
“So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.”
–Hebrews 10:23(AMPC)
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How hard it is for us to get in a spot of quiet anticipation. The world is in so much turmoil, and our lives seem to be so busy, we cannot find time to rest properly. Even when there is that moment, we turn to social media. The mind is constantly being flooded with information. In the midst of all of this, Jesus is trying to talk to us; trying to remind us.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”
–John 14:1 (NKJV)
Perhaps we should make it our prayer and then a priority to be given a quiet mind, a mind that trusts in God. We need to put the things that worry our mind aside, especially those things that have not happened and our worry for the future. Begin a practice of trusting in God, for He is on our side. There was a grand song in the church in ages past that should be revived. Seldom have I heard it played or sung, yet the truth of this magnificent song can put our souls to rest, “Be Still, My Soul.”
“Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side,
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain,
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
–Katharina von Schlegel
“I don’t have patience,” you may cry, but if you are a Christian, there is patience within you. It is part of the Fruit of the Spirit. I believe one of the snares of the devil today is to keep us so busy, to constantly keep us moving and not waiting on the Lord. How many times do you get on your phone when there is an opportunity to get alone and quiet with God? It takes patience to help you to bear the evils of life.
“Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.”
You try to push through the problem and obstacles. You seek to go this way and that way. The problem becomes larger and looms over you ready to crush you. “God do something!” you cry but you fail to realize that He already is, you just have not taken the time to be quiet and still before Him. Is God in charge or are you in charge, or maybe the circumstance is in charge?
“Patience demonstrates a sweet submission to the providential appointments of God, and shows fortitude in the presence of duties that drain strength and provide no quick reward. Patience is the outcome of faith working with grace.”
–Carlos Murphy
“Be still, my soul; the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”
In this troublesome time there is a need for us to learn to rest in the Lord. The world, and even the church, seems to demand “hype”, keeping the soul in turmoil instead of just resting in the presence of the Lord. I would tell you to grasp hold of God’s Word and gain that calm assurance.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
–Hebrews 10:23(NKJV)