Calm And Quiet

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Psalm 131:2

According to medical researchers at Duke University, there is a vicious cycle involving insomnia, anxiety, and depression. It’s sort of a “which came first: the chicken or the egg?” scenario. Perhaps one symptom presents first; but once the cycle starts, it doesn’t matter. Anxiety might cause insomnia, which might result in depression, which might lead to greater anxiety . . . and the cycle continues as the symptoms feed off one another.

There are plenty of good reasons to be anxious, depressed, and sleepless in today’s world. But Christians have promises from God that should alleviate all three symptoms—promises that God rules over all the earth and knows the beginning from the end of history. Our task is to do what the psalmist David did: he didn’t worry about “great matters” or things “too profound” for him. Instead, he “calmed and quieted” his soul like a “weaned child” at rest in its mother’s lap—peaceful and quiet (Psalm 131:1-2).

God’s job is to guide the world. Your job is to “be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6), to rest in the Father’s promises.

How soon shall the present night be forgotten in the brightness of endless day!

HORATIUS BONAR