In the busyness of life in this loud, technological, fast-moving world, we often forget to quiet ourselves before the Lord. It is so easy to start fretting about this or get distracted by that, but once we come before the Lord and reflect on Him, our problems grow dim and our souls are refreshed. "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) is a command that our weary hearts ought to gladly obey, for it is only in Him that we find true rest. Even in the midst of normal everyday life, we can still have a quiet mind. In her book Keep a Quiet Heart, Elisabeth Elliot quotes the below poem and I think it captures well the essence of a quiet mind:
I've many a cross to take up now,
And many left behind;
But present troubles move me not,
Nor shake my quiet mind.
And what may be tomorrow's cross
I never seek to find;
My Father says, "Leave that to Me,
And keep a quiet mind."
- Anonymous
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 every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
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 winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening 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.
- Katharina von Schlegel
"In returning and rest shall ye be saved;
In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."
- Isaiah 30:15
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