Calm and Quiet

Jul 9 2024 - Eric Buresh

 I recently “stumbled” across a treasure trove of wisdom in the short text of Psalm 131:  

"Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever." 

In these few, short verses, we find a pathway to a life of calm and quiet trust in the Lord. David, the man after God’s own heart, begins with a declaration of humility: "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty." Here, David sets before us the foundation of a peaceful soul—humility. It is the proud heart, the lofty eyes, that stir up turmoil within us. When we think too highly of ourselves, when we aspire to things beyond God’s calling, we invite anxiety and unrest. 

David continues, "Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me." There is a holy wisdom in recognizing our limitations, in not striving for what God has not appointed for us. How often do we find ourselves troubled because we reach beyond our measure, because we covet positions, possessions, or knowledge that God has not granted us? In contrast, David embraces a posture of humble acceptance, refraining from overreaching ambition. 

"Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me." This is a beautiful picture of contentment! A weaned child no longer frets for the milk it once aggressively demanded; it rests calmly and securely in its mother’s arms, trusting that all its needs will be met. Likewise, David's soul is calm and quiet, free from the clamor of unmet desires and the agitation of unfulfilled longings. He rests in the sufficiency of God's provision, in the surety of God's care. 

How do we achieve such a state of calm and quiet? It begins with humility, with the acknowledgment that we are creatures under the sovereign care of our Creator. It involves a conscious decision to relinquish our striving after things too high for us, to cease from our anxious pursuits. Instead, we are to rest in God’s providence, trusting that He knows our needs and will supply them according to His perfect wisdom. 

David concludes with an exhortation: "O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever." This is the anchor for our calm and quiet soul—hope in the Lord. It is a hope that is not based on our circumstances but on the unchanging character of our God. He is faithful, He is good, and His mercies endure forever. When our hope is set on Him, we find peace that surpasses all understanding, a tranquility that steadies our hearts through every storm. 

I pray that each of us may humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, casting all our cares upon Him; that we may quiet our souls, relinquishing our restless striving and resting in His loving embrace; and that we may place our hope fully in the Lord, now and forevermore.