Photo by VisionPic .net from Pexels
I awoke this morning in a groggy state. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Yesterday, I committed to sew masks for Jenny’s Starbucks crew. They were not working as the pattern I had said they should. It took me two hours to figure one out with my own design and once I did, I went into assembly-line mode. By that time, my back was killing me from leaning over the ironing board and sewing machine.
Giving time to this commitment meant that the rest of my duties went by the wayside. Making dinner Prepping school for the next day. Walking with my husband at the end of the evening. While my family did a great job covering for me, some things got misplaced in the process. That was also what I woke up to this morning: missing dog leashes and prayer book. This disarray just accentuated the weary weight I felt this morning.
Anger welled up which caused raging through my heart and soul in those moments. When I finally located my prayer book and sat down with my coffee, I was in no mood for Bible Study.
I had a choice. I could ignore the still, small Voice calling to me or I could rage against.
I quieted my soul. I reminded myself that I am Abba’s child and because I belong to Him, my rage, anger, and anxiety should be laid aside. I chose peace in obedience to Abba.
He led me to Psalm 131. Just three verses.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul
Like a weaned child with its mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Psalm 131:2
Like a weaned child.
I used to read this passage and recall how difficult it was to wean a child. There is little peace during those times. Children in the process of weaning are fitful. They crave the comfort of mother’s breasts.
It struck me recently that the Word says “like a weaned child.” It is written in the past tense. This child has learned to be content just being with mom. Nursing isn’t necessary anymore. They are peaceful.
This is what David is referring to: a child at peace with his Father, trusting and hoping in Him.
Psalm 131:1 has more to say before this.
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.
What are these “things too great and too marvelous”? I believe they are the things we are to trust in God’s hands.
- Unemployment
- Rebellious children
- Infertility
- Quarantine
- Boredom
- Groceries
- Education
- COVID-19
These are the business of a Sovereign God who has not given us a say in the matters. They are the circumstances of life that we have no control over.
As it turns out, I did not finish the masks last night. I had to get up early to finish them. It was easy to worry about that because I wanted to serve the workers at Starbucks and have them at the store when they opened. It was out of my hands though. I had a choice: I could either fret or I could trust that His timing is better than mine.
This is what peace looks like. It’s given freely to us but we must chase after it. We must choose it. If we don’t, we will spend many fretful hours and days thinking about things that are too great and marvelous for us.
Jesus said, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27)
In other words, anxiety is a waste of our time. How many hours can we add to our day by trusting the Lord rather than concerning ourselves with things that are too “great and marvelous” for us?
Notice one more thing. David said his heart was not lifted up and his eyes not raised too high. Not a stance of shame that will not lift it’s eyes at all. That has been washed away by Jesus. This is a stance of humility before our King. This is humility before Abba that emulates our Savior. It’s recognizing that we should not concern ourselves with God’s job. We must trust Him. We need to be humble enough to let God do His job and concern ourselves with what we have been called to do, mainly to trust and obey.
Beloved, you belong to Abba. You must be as one loved. Be-loved. Lay your anxieties at the foot of the cross. Choose this day to trust and quiet your soul. Drown out the enemy of your soul and all his lies with a belief in Abba’s love for you.
Dare to believe. Dare to trust. Dare to quiet your soul and trust your Abba like the child you are, at peace with your Father.