Stressed, afraid, anxious, worried, overwhelmed, consumed, restlessness, sleeplessness.
What are we to do when we find ourselves in this state? Hear the Word of God in Psalm 131, and pray God’s Word back to him.
“O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.”
God, I turn to you; hear my cry. My heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised up too high. I won’t puff myself up. Forgive me for the ways I have been proud and arrogant. I commit not to occupy myself with issues and problems that are too great for me, too difficult for me. I don’t want to get caught up in things beyond my control, outside my influence, or not my responsibility. Give me grace to focus only on what you have given me. Give me grace to only concern myself with the people, situations, and tasks you have called me to. Lord, I entrust all of these things to you.
“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
Instead of getting worked up about things that are beyond me, I have calmed and quieted my soul. I commit to compose myself in your presence. Forgive me for the times that I have not come to you and sat quietly with you. I want to be like a weaned child with his mother. Not restless or dissatisfied. Not like a baby rooting around for milk. But like a child who is full, calm, and satisfied, I want to sit with you. I know in Christ, all of my needs have been met. Come Holy Spirit and enable me to rest in you!
“O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.”
Lord God, you alone are faithful. Your promises to Israel, your people, are always true. In Christ, I hold onto the generations of your faithfulness. I hope in you. I put my hope in you right now – I trust you with all the people, situations, and tasks that make me worried and restless. I put my hope in you in this moment and forevermore. Please come fill me, calm and quiet my soul.