Quiet My Heart

Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord —now and always.

Psalm 131:1-3

When we were in Maryland visiting our son, daughter-in-law, and their baby, I took photographs of my granddaughter. Josephine wasn’t eating, demanding anything, or scrambling down to get something; she was just resting on her mother’s lap, holding Mom’s finger, and enjoying being close to her. This quiet moment may have been short-lived, but it’s similar to this psalm’s picture of childlike trust in the Lord. David is not arrogant or proud even though he is a great king who has had many victories on the battlefield. He doesn’t boast about his own greatness. He doesn’t concern himself with “matters too great or awesome,” or seek his own agenda. Instead, he rests quietly and depends on the Lord.

You may be thinking, I could never be that peaceful with everything I’m concerned about. But the psalmist concludes in verse 3: “Put your hope in the Lord —now and always.” Whether we are in darkness or morning light, difficult times or a season of joy, he calls us to humble, childlike trust in the Lord, to be still and wait quietly for God to work, to hope in him for today and for all our tomorrows. Ask God to bring that kind of quietness to your soul as you draw near to him.

LORD, thank you for calling me to childlike trust. You are utterly dependable and faithful! I come to you in humility and ask you to quiet my racing heart, my busy mind. As a small child quietly leaning on her mother, may I rest in you, depend on you, and trust in you fully this day. Help me to leave all my burdens with you and enjoy being in your presence.

It is not our trust that keeps us, but the God in whom we trust who keeps us. OSWALD CHAMBERS (1874–1917)

---

The One Year Bible Readings for today are Amos 7:1–9:15; Revelation 3:7-22; Psalm 131:1-3; and Proverbs 29:23.