Tranquility

I jammed a key into the lock of the store’s glass door. The lock slid into place with a click. Glancing through the window, I checked to make sure everything was in order. The lights were off. I had emptied the cash register. Good. I scurried down the familiar concrete walk towards the slatted fence and house beyond.

A glimmer in the twilight sky caught my attention, and I glanced upwards. There hung the moon, not full, but still so beautiful. Jupiter glowed beside it. A few winking stars peeped out from their royal quilt of clouds. My eyes roved across the span of heaven and returned to the steady light of the moon. I stopped crunching snow beneath my feet. I stopped jangling the keys. I stopped rustling my grocery bag.

Silence.

I listened. Even the wind held its peace. The planet didn’t hide its radiance. Nor did the moon conceal its brilliance. How many times had this pair been suspended there while I dashed along unheedingly? How many beautiful evenings had I missed out on? Though I heard nothing, through the clear air I felt something speaking.

“Be still, my soul.”

 A yearning stirred beneath my clutter of demands to do this, do that, don’t forget, make sure…It was a yearning to just be still. As seen by the human eye, the moon is still. That’s why it shines so clearly.

The state of the world today is very much how the devil likes it to be. Man builds stress and pressure for himself by rushing from one duty to the next, protecting his ego, or perhaps even extending service to others. Keeping up with peers in business, education, or other areas creates a cyclone of activity. Beeping hand-held device, flashing road signs, twanging music, humming, blaring, and throbbing machines—everything adds to the tempo which increases and intensifies with each passing day.

The idea of the day is to hit the gas and launch into cruise. Glide along. Go with the flow. It’s the easiest and most comfortable place to be. But if I don’t slow down, eventually the car will run out of fuel and I’ll be stranded where I never wanted to be.

 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

Christ calls each believer to a life of following Him. But did He intend it to be a life of straining and trampling in the yoke because everybody else is zooming along in their limos? No, Christ did not tell me, “Rent My car and learn of Me…for My car is comfortable and the cruise is smooth.” He wants me to take up His yoke. He has a different kind of work for me. It may not be the quickest work, but it’s the best. By accepting what He chooses for me, I will find refreshment. He will carry the yoke with me if I allow Him to have His way.

“Learn of Me,” He says. Is God easily pressured? Does He get impatient? Does He fly about in frantic frenzy, trying to meet everybody’s needs? Of course not! God is God. He is far more than capable of handling everything with wisdom and care. He is never rushed, for His timing is perfect. Can I reflect His image?

God never gives more than His children can carry. He doesn’t want his followers to be burdening themselves with things of little importance. But the devil does.

Rest is a weapon given to you by God. The enemy hates it because he wants you stressed and occupied.

The devil is a liar, deceiving people into thinking they must do more than those around them. But God doesn’t tell me to compete. He only wants a heart fully committed to His service alone. That heart will serve Him much more efficiently if it isn’t bogged down with earthly pressures.

But what does it mean to be fully committed? How can one escape the careening car? Just as the moon hangs suspended in peace, reflecting the light of the sun, so I am called to reflect the glory of the Son. I depend on Him. To bear that reflection, I must be still.

“…in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…” (Isaiah 30:15)

First comes the quiet; then the confidence. By keeping my heart tuned towards God’s and by drawing strength daily from His Word, I can receive confidence to fulfill His will. What is most important to God should be what is most important to me. I ought to seek out His desires and lay aside my own. Perhaps that will mean spending time in my prayer closet instead of attending a social gathering. On the other hand, maybe that will mean I ought to attend that event to deepen relationships. Each specific situation calls for a separate response. God will direct the heart that rests in Him; the heart that is quiet enough to hear Him.

In today’s world, relationships have collapsed to a pitiful state, especially with satellites floating around to transmit anything at terrific speeds. Yet, God desires more than a few jotted words or an abbreviated text message. He wants true, deep relationship. He wants time with His precious children. He gave me time, but He also gave me the freedom to spend it the way I choose.

Do I spend my time for Him?

When I fall at my beloved Saviour’s feet, will it matter whether or not I watched that video my friends recommended? Will it matter that I made the top score in class or achieved prominent status in the workplace? Will it matter if I checked off everything on my to-do-list?

It will matter where I have placed my heart. It will matter whether it was set on pursuing earthly goals or if it rested in the Lord, pursuing an intimate relationship with Him. It will matter whether or not I brightened the hectic lifestyle of the world with the reflection of the Father’s peace.

A sudden gust of wind jolted me back to the present as it tugged at my skirt. It rustled the grocery bag. It rattled the loose rain gutters. I stomped my feet to warm them, and resumed my jaunt homeward. Perhaps I could slow down my car of life. Or maybe I needed to head it in a different direction. Maybe I should just be still.

What about you?