Psalm 131
A friend pointed me to Psalm 131 and asked me to dwell in it. Of course it just so happened to dive into what I had been studying and contemplating about God. Sometimes He puts the dots close enough together it’s not too hard to connect them.
Read Psalm 131 and while thinking about these questions:
What are great things that you can become over occupied with? Why do they consume your thoughts and time? What are you hoping comes from them?
How can verse 1 contribute to an unsettled and anxious soul?
Who is God in the midst of any focus on who you are and any lofty ambitions of who you desire to be? Does who He is or what He does change based on your accomplishments?
An unweaned child will not be comforted until they receive milk from their mother. When you are anxious and in need of comfort, is there anything you find yourself expecting God to provide in order to comfort you?
A weaned child does not always look for milk or other immediate physical needs. Often they can find comfort in the presence of the mother alone. How can God’s presence alone be sufficient enough for you to calm and quiet your soul?
Psalm 131:2 - But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
I’ve seen many times the calm a mother can bring when feeding a child. This Psalm helps me appreciate the weaning process of a child not just looking to milk for comfort (over and over again), but instead looking only for the comfort of mom. I think there are ways dad’s can relate as well. I think about the time between my young daughter Emery waking up from her nap until a parent arrives. In the dark, she always stands in the very same corner of her crib - closest to the door. Always different types of restless cries until you arrive, not knowing when that might be. As soon as you open the door it’s an instant smile and giggle knowing that daddy is here (although admittedly also grabbing as many stuffed animals she can wrap her little arms around). This verse is a great reminder that God’s presence (while comparable) is different. My soul does not need to be restless like there are these dark times in between waking up and His presence. He is always here. He is the God who is sufficient to calm and quiet my soul.
By Nathan Reynolds
Cru Staff at Michigan State University