QUIETED

This verse is at the center of one of the shortest psalms to read and possibly the longest to learn. Although it describes a child’s condition, this is actually the experience of a man. Israel’s King David was known as a formidable foe and fearless warrior, the epitome of a man’s man. Calm and quiet might not be how most would describe him. But in one unexpected word, David describes himself: weaned.

Whether it’s the bottle or breast, weaning is no easy feat. Tears and tantrums are common. If we snooped inside the child’s thoughts, they’d probably be, “This is cruel. How could mom take away such a good thing?” Nothing about this turn of events feels right. The very thing that supplied food and a sense of security has been taken away. Yet unknown to the babe, mom knows exactly what she is doing and why. Imagine a college kid walking across campus with a baby bottle tucked under his arm!

Believer, life is full of times of weaning. Painful and scary? Certainly. But equally true is this, the Lord never takes anything without giving something better in return. By removing the security of the familiar, He’s wisely leading you to new opportunities to mature. And like David, you’ll have a choice to make. Resist letting go or trust that Father really does know best.

No one comes to a quiet heart without a determined yielding to the Spirit. A quieted soul isn’t resigned or apathetic. It is a self-controlled one who has learned his Lord can be completely trusted when human logic fails. Only the surrendered heart can say, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (Philippians 4:11).