“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.” — Psalm 131:1
Is your life stressing you out right now? Is it the political situation? Maybe it’s the anxiety of paying your bills while preparing for the holidays? Maybe you worry about your work or the economy? Life has a way of causing us stress all of the time. Sickness, finances, holidays, family, and work can all add to our anxiety. When I read this Psalm the other day, however, I was encouraged.
You see, there are many things outside of our control. There are things we don’t understand and questions we don’t have good answers for. Sometimes it feels like we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders.
Verse one commands us to not occupy ourselves with these things. The second verse commands us to calm and quiet our soul. Calm and quiet like a child with its mother. Imagine a mom (or dad) holding their sleeping infant. The child is relaxed and sleeping soundly knowing that their parent will take care of them. That is exactly how we are to put our hope in God.
We need to be trained to trust in God to supply our needs and not worry about the future. Church, don’t stress out about all of the things that are too great for you. Calm your soul. Put your hope forever in God!
Calmed,
Josh
Posted in A Word from the Pastor