Be 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 is
sort of a “which came first: the chicken or the egg?” scenario.
Perhaps it’s one that 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. Christians have promises from God
that 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.
"The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my
moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God
in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say… “Help me.”
Billy Graham
