I have been thinking about this Bible verse the last several days. "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17
The phrase, "he will quiet you by his love" has play over and over in my mind. I have read this verse hundreds of times but for some reason, those words have caught my attention.
Have you ever had times in your life when your mind is racing so fast but at the same time it stuck on the same thoughts over and over again. Anxiety and worry have taken root inside your brain and you feel trapped in your thoughts.
I can vividly recall times in my life where I have been afraid; and yet I could feel God's peace, it was a calmness that washed over my heart, mind, and soul. It truly is the peace that surpasses all human understanding. From a human perspective it doesn't make sense. But as I look at this scripture verse and it tells me that God will quiet it me with His love, I began to understand all the moments when His peace has calmed my troubled heart and wearied mind.
I will never forget when we did not know if our Dad was going to live or die. There is nothing that can prepare you for those moments... in your mind you can rationalize that your parents are getting older and that they will not live forever. But when you stand face to face with the reality of death, it can strike terror in your heart and your mind can began to race with all the thoughts of what if..... I have to tell you during those days when we did not know what was going to happen with our Dad, anxiety was not my constant companion, instead God's peace flowed all around me. As I look back at that time I am amazed by how God quieted us with His love.
My Dad survived and he is still with us. I am so thankful. He doesn't remember much about that time in the hospital. But the one thing he does remember is that he felt a presence in the room with him, it was near him and it brought to him a feeling of peace that words cannot begin to describe.
I had wondered if my Dad felt scared and I find out that God was right here sitting next to him, quieting him with His love.
This reminds me of a beautiful prayer a friend of mine gave me when I was going through some major health issues and stressful situations. He said to say each line of the prayer and to focus on the what the words mean.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be. Psalm 46:10
I added this to the prayer. Be in the presence of the One who loves you more than you can possibly imagine. The hands that formed the earth and placed the stars, the hands that were nailed to the tree and won the victory over sin, death, and the devil....are the very same hands that hold you close to His heart and will never let you go.
Sin has messed up so many relationships and caused so many problems in our world. But I know the One who has won the victory over sin, so I will find comfort in my Savior, who quiets me with His love.
