Oh, how divinely sweet it is to come into the secret of His presence and abide in His pavilion!—David Brainerd (1718–1747), missionary to the Native Americans
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.—Psalm 37:7
What shall the believer do in times of darkness? Sit still and listen. Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God. Let him just sit still, as the Scripture says—be still and listen. The first thing to do is to do nothing, to stand still. That goes against human nature, but that’s the wise thing to do. There’s a saying, “When you’re rattled, don’t rush.” In other words, when you aren’t sure you know what to do next, don’t rush blindly into anything, hoping for the best.
Be still and see what God will do. It is when we are quiet and trusting in God that He can work. Worry often prevents Him from doing all that He can. If our minds are distracted and our hearts are stressed, we’re not in a position where He can do much for us. The peace of God must quiet our minds and bring rest to our hearts.
Put your hand into the hand of God, and let Him lead you out into the bright sunshine of His love. Be still. Let Him do the work for you. “Be anxious for nothing, but … let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God … will guard your hearts and minds.” 1 —Virginia Brandt Berg (1886–1968), American evangelist and pastor
God does not stand afar off as I struggle to speak. He cares enough to listen with more than casual attention. He translates my scrubby words and hears what is truly inside. He hears my sighs and uncertain gropings as fine prose.—Timothy Jones
My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.—Exodus 33:14 ESV
My little boy came in one day and stuck his little head into the doorway of my study. Now he knew he was not supposed to disturb me during working hours. And his conscience troubled him a little on account of this. But he looked at me nevertheless with his kind, round baby eyes and said, “Daddy, I will sit still all the time if you will only let me be here with you!” That he received permission when he approached my father-heart in that way, every father will know.
That little experience gave me a great deal to think about. Is not that just the way we often feel with regard to our Heavenly Father? We do so love to be with Him, just to be in His presence! Moreover, we never disturb Him, no matter when we come nor how often we come! —Ole Hallesby (1879–1961), Norwegian Christian teacher
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.—Psalm 55:22 NLT
Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.—Unknown
Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God’s own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.
—Edith Linn Forbes (1865–1945)
Learn to know Jesus so well that we feel safe when we have left our difficulties with Him. … As … we learn to know Jesus better and better, our prayers become quiet, confidential, and blessed conversations with Him, our best Friend, about the things that are on our minds, whether it be our own needs or the needs of others. … And especially will our prayer life become restful when it really dawns upon us that we have done all we are supposed to do when we have spoken to Him about it. From that moment we have left it with Him. It is His responsibility then.
“A little while with Jesus—
oh, how it soothes the soul,
and gathers all the threads of life
into a perfect whole.”
—Ole Hallesby
It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.—Hans Selye (1907–1982), pioneering Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist acknowledged as the “Father” of the field of stress research
There is no place where the mind can be as fully renewed as in the secret place of prayer, alone with God. When we come aside from the temporal things that distract and harass us, and there in the presence of God we put our mind on the things of God, the transforming power of God then begins to work in us, and we are changed, renewed.—Virginia Brandt Berg
- Philippians 4:6–7↑